BANCROFT 

LIBRARY 
<• 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


•v, 


REMINISCENCES 

.OF  A  VETERAN 


BY 

HENRY  S.  HAMILTON, 
it 


CONCORD,    N.  H. 

REPUBLICAN    PRESS   ASSOCIATION, 
1897. 


H 


BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 


TO 

ZTTy  ^ellot 

OF    CONCORD    AND    MANCHESTER, 

NEW    HAMPSHIRE, 

THESE    VETERAN    REMINISCENCES    ARE 

RESPECTFULLY    DEDICATED 

BY    THE    AUTHOR. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FAOK 

Birth  and  Parentage.— Boyhood  Days.— A  Hard  Apprenticeship.— A 
Sudden  Departure.— Enlistment  for  the  Crimea.— A  Bad  Beginning  5 

CHAPTER    11. 

Life  in  the  Barracks.— A  Cavalryman's  Drill.— An  Irish  Dance  and  a 
French  Leave.— Arrival  in  Dublin.— A  Dangerous  Embarkation.— 
Lying  Low  in  Liverpool.— Afloat  for  America 10 

CHAPTER   III. 

Life  on  a  Sailing  Vessel. — Sufferings  of  the  Emigrants. — An  Unceremo- 
nious Burial.— The  Captain's  Brutality.—  Arrival  at  New  York  .  i; 

CHAPTER   IV. 

Emigrants  on  Shore. — An  Experiment  in  "  Treating." — Captured  by  a 
"Shark." — Penniless  in  New  York. — Life  in  the  Streets. — A  Quest 
for  Work — Tramping  towards  Buffalo 21 

CHAPTER   V. 

Temptations  to  Enlist. — An  Appeal  to  Chance.— A  Discouraged  Com- 
rade.— A  Kind  Hearted  Conductor — Enlistment  in  the  U.  S.  Army. — 
Military  Life  on  Governors  Island. — A  Freak  Drill-Master.— A  Con- 
traband Traffic 29 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Promotion  to  Sergeant. — Poor  Jim's  111  Fortune. — On  Recruiting  Ser- 
vice in  Massachusetts. — Escorting  Recruits  Under  Difficulties. — 
Joining  the  "  Old  Tenth."— General  Canby's  Record  ....  36 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Taking  up  the  Bugle.  —Captain  Gove  and  His  New  Hampshire  Com- 
pany.— Two  Splendid  Sergeants. — A  Tribute  to  Sergeant  Libby. — 
A  Bugler's  Duties. — The  Flogging. — Joining  the  Band  .  .  .41 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Ordered  to  Fort  Snelling,  Minn. — The  Band  in  Clover. — Fishing  and 
Hunting. — The  Beginning  of  Minneapolis. — A  Severe  Winter. — Lost 
in  the  Storm. — A  Narrow  Escape  ........  48 

CHAPTER  IX. 

A  Risky  Rabbit  Hunt. — Removal  to  Fort  Ridgly. — The  Sioux  Indians' 
War  Dance. — A  Barbarous  Repast. — Hard  Life  of  an  Indian  Squaw  55 

CHAPTER   X. 

On  Furlough. — Two  Hundred  Miles  in  a  Sleigh. — A  Social  Evening 
with  the  Noble  Red  Man. — Novel  Sleeping  Accommodations. — Return 
to  Fort  Ridgly 60 

CHAPTER  XI. 

An  Indian  Massacre. — Recovery  of  a  Prisoner. — A  Revolt  in  the  Band. 
— In  the  Guard-house. — The  Musicians'  Revenge. — A  Military  Fu- 
neral.— Winter  Dangers  and  Deprivations. — The  Drummer  Boy's 
Narrow  Escape 63 

CHAPTER  XII. 

En  Route  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas. — Exciting  Times  in  the  Ter- 
ritory.— Desertion  of  a  Sergeant.— Starting  on  the  Long  March  to 
Utah. — The  Big  Drummer's  Discouragement. — His  Famous  Baked 
Beans. — His  Laughable  Dilemma 69 

CHAPTER  XIII.* 

Arrival  at  Big  Blue  River. — A  Pig  Hunt  and  its  Consequences. — Im- 
mense Herds  of  Buffaloes. — The  March  Across  the  Desert. — Brigham 
Young's  Proclamation. — Annoyed  by  Mormons. — An  Impudent 
Order. — Three  Mormons  Captured. — Continued  Depredations  .  75 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

A  Change  of  Course. — General  Johnston's  Arrival. — Ordered  Back. — 
Terrible  Hardships.—"  The  Camp  of  Death."— Major  Canby's  Con- 
sideration.— Captain  Marcy's  Relief  Expedition. — Mickey  O'Brien's 
Rabbit  Hunt  8s 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Fort  Bridger. — Cold  and  Starvation. — Salt  from  the  Saints  -^An  Indian 
Dinner.— Dog  Consomme. — A  Gloomy  Christmas  .  .  .  .  91 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

A  Change  of  Camp. — Governor  Cumming's  Singular  Behavior. — Kane, 
the  Mormon's  Friend. — Arrival  of  Supplies 97 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Governor  Gumming  Joins  Brigham  Young. — The  Start  for  Salt  Lake 
City. — Mormon  Fortifications  at  Echo  Canon. — Dangerous  Fording. 
— A  Mormon  Money-Maker. — Wahsatch  Mountain. — The  Beautiful 
Valley  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake.— A  Difficult  Descent.— The  Entrance 
into  Zion.— A  Deserted  City.— The  Wonderful  Hot  Springs.— Heber 
Kimball's  Benediction  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  101 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  Return  of  the  Refugees.— Encampment  at  Cedar  Valley.— Violent 
Whirlwinds.— The  Soldiers'  Pets.— The  Gamblers  of  Adobetown.— 
A  Mormon  Christmas  Dinner.— A  "  Sealed  Wife."— The  Murder  of 
Sergeant  Pike. — Term  of  Enlistment  Ended  .  .  .  .  .108 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Working  towards  Home. — A  Mysterious  Disappearance. — An  Irish 
Indian. — A  Disagreeable  Encounter. — The  Lost  Pony. — The  Indian 
Encampment. — A  Fight  with  the  Savages. — A  Midnight  Surprise. — 
Defeat  of  the  Red  Men  .  .  .  . 114 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Two  "  Black  Sheep."— The  Robbers  Captured.— The  Court  and  the 
Sentence. — Arrival  at  Nebraska  City. — Oto  Indians'  Visit. — Starting 
for  the  East.— The  Outbreak  of  Secession.— A  Hot  Time  in  a  Con- 
cert Hall.— An  Insult  to  the  Flag 119 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

In  Concord,  New  Hampshire. — The  Big  Drummer's  Home.—  Amateur 
Farming. — Violin  Playing  and  Corn  Planting 126 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  War  Excitement.— Again  Enlisted.— The  Third  Regiment  Band.— 
Starting  for  the  Front.—"  Camp  Winfield  Scott."— Ordered  to  Wash- 
ington.— The  March  through  Baltimore. — In  Camp  near  Washington. 
— In  Annapolis,  Maryland 129 

CHAPTER  XX1I1. 

The  Regiment  on  Shipboard.— The  Storm  off  Hatteras. — Appalling 
Scenes. — The  Bombardment  of  Port  Royal 137 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A  Southern  Island.— The  Colonel's  Bugler.— A  Reconnoitering  Expe- 
dition.—The  First  Bugle  Call.— Skirmishing  with  the  Rebels.— Raid- 
ing in  Bluffton. —  Return  to  Hilton  Head  ......  141 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

An  April  Fool.— Edisto  Island.— The  Hopkins  and  Seabrook  Planta- 
tions— A  Scene  of  Beauty. — Band  Concerts  and  Darky  Breakdowns. 
— Another  Reconnoissance. — Camp  Life  and  Foraging  .  .  .  148 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

A  Trying  March.— Scanty  Rations.— A  Moist  Time.— The  Colonel's 
Canteen. — On  James  Island. — A  Terrific  Thunder  Storm  .  .  .  155 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 

The  Battle  of  James  Island.— Colonel  Jackson's  Official  Report.— After 
the  Battle.— Sad  Duties  of  the  Band  .  .  .  .  .  .  .160 

CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

Evacuation  of  James  Island. — In  Camp  at  Hilton  Head. — A  Surprise 
from  the  Rebels.— The  Deadly  Climate 167 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 

Mustering  Out  of  the  Band. — The  Journey  Home. — Marriage         .         .170 

CHAPTER   XXX. 

Supplementary. — Two  Visits  to  England. — Last  Look  at  the  Old  Home     175 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A  VETERAN. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A  VETERAN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

WAS  born  in  the  town  of  Lynn,  County  of 
Norfolk,  one  of  the  old  walled,  borough 
towns  on  the  east  coast  of  England,  and 
was  the  third  of  a  family  of  eleven  children. 
My  father  was  a  quiet,  unpretending  man, 
and  followed  the  occupation  of  bricklayer.  He  was  in 
business  for  himself,  and  by  his  industry,  brought  up  a 
large  family  respectably  and  accumulated  sufficient  prop- 
erty to  care  for  him  in  old  age.  My  mother  was  a 
Christian,  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  I 
considered  her  a  very  remarkable  woman.  All  matters 
pertaining  to  the  house  and  children  were  left  to  her. 
She  carried  the  purse,  paid  all  bills,  kept  my  father's 
accounts,  furnished  us  with  pocket  money,  made  all  our 
clothes  and  her  own,  and  always  asserted  the  right  of 
punishing  the  children  for  all  misdemeanors.  The  latter 
prerogative  I  do  not  think  my  father  ever  coveted,  for  I 
can  call  to  memory  no  instance  when  he  ever  corrected 


6  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

one  of  us,  though  there  were  times  when,  as  I  think  now, 
few  men  would  have  allowed  such  transgressions  to  pass 
without  punishment.  I  suppose,  however,  he  thought  my 
mother  equal  to  all  such  emergencies. 

I  believe  I  caused  my  parents  rather  more  anxiety  than 
any  of  the  rest  of  the  family,  being,  as  the  neighbors 
called  me,  wild.  I  had  a  very  happy  childhood,  more  so 
than  boys  in  general.  One  of  the  principal  causes  of 
trouble  to  my  parents  was  the  low  company  I  kept.  No- 
body can  tell  the  amount  of  enjoyment  I  derived  from 
those  associates,  who,  I  must  confess,  were  of  a  rather 
low  order,  some  of  them  being  poor  chimney-sweepers. 
But  they  were  jolly,  good  fellows,  and  the  time  passed 
with  them  on  the  seashore,  in  mud  and  water,  getting 
shell-fish,  and  in  other  amusements,  is  always  a  pleasant 
recollection  to  me.  Twice  I  barely  escaped  drowning, 
and  it  was  only  by  the  great  courage  of  my  chimney- 
sweep friends,  and  at  the  risk  of  their  lives,  that  I  was 
saved.  Twice  I  was  blown  up  with  gunpowder,  and  once 
fell  from  the  top  of  a  two-story  house,  with  many  other 
accidents  which  boys  are  subject  to.  I  was  taken  from 
three  schools  for  the  abominable  whippings  received. 
Of  the  last  one  I  have  very  painful  recollections  to  this 
day,  though,  perhaps,  not  so  bad  as  they  were  at  the 
time,  for  I  distinctly  remember  the  suffering  it  caused 
me,  not  only  in  mind  but  also  in  body,  especially  when 
seated  at  meals. 

Upon  reflection  at  this  distant  day,  I  think  the  disci- 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VE  TERAN. 


pline  in  schools  was  very  severe,  and  often  great  injustice 
was  meted  out  for  small  offenses.  It  is  a,  source  of  sat- 
isfaction to  me  to  know  that  in  all  my  misfortunes  I  had 
a  firm  friend  in  my  mother,  who  invariably  took  my  part 
and  overlooked  all  my  shortcomings,  though  she  never 
countenanced  wrong-doing. 

I  was  graduated  from  Theobald's  Academy  at  the  age  of 
thirteen,  at  which  place  I  was  taught  music.  The  latter 
branch  of  my  studies  has  been  of  great  service,  helping 
me  over  many  hard  spots,  where  otherwise  I  must  have 
suffered  much.  It  became  a  very  perplexing  question 
to  my  father  to  know  what  to  do  with  me,  he  having 
put  me  to  four  different  trades,  of  all  of  which  I  soon  tired. 
He  at  last  apprenticed  me  for  seven  years  to  a  printer, 
a  business  which  I  thought  suited.  The  compensation 
for  my  services  was  very  small,  it  being  for  the  first  year 
about  twenty-five  cents  a  week,  with  a  gradual  increase, 
so  that  the  seventh  year  I  got  $1.50.  To  be  sure  there 
were  perquisites,  such  as  the  kicks  I  occasionally  re- 
ceived from  my  master,  and  to  this  cause  I  principally 
attribute  my  wandering  life. 

Toward  the  latter  part  of  my  seventh  year,  my  master, 
thinking  I  had  been  gone  too  long  to  dinner,  kicked  me  ; 
so  severe  was  the  blow  that  it  aroused  my  anger,  and  I 
rushed  at  him,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  foreman  I 
cannot  tell  what  might  have  been  the  result.  My  feel- 
ings were  wrought  up  to  such  a  pitch  of  excitement,  and 
I  felt  so  embittered  against  him  that  I  could  not  work, 


8  REMINISCENCES  OF  A   VETERAN. 

and  so  sauntered  out  into  the  street,  without  any  definite 
plan  whither  I  should  go  or  what  I  should  do.  Here  I  met 
an  old  acquaintance,  to  whom  I  related  the  occurrence. 
I  soon  learned  that  he  was  fully  as  tired  of  his  master 
as  I  was  of  mine,  and  so  we  made  up  our  minds  to  run 
away  the  first  chance  that  offered.  An  opportunity  soon 
presented  itself,  both  our  masters  being  out  of  town. 
It  was  a  beautiful,  bright  morning,  the  first  of  May,  1854, 
when  I  gladly  forsook  my  master,  but  with  a  sad  heart 
at  leaving  a  happy  home,  which  now  would  be  made 
unhappy,  loving  brothers  and  sister,  and  the  kindest  of 
parents.  As  the  cars  moved  out  of  the  station,  I  looked 
back,  and  the  thought  struck  me,  What  am  I  doing  ?  In- 
stantly I  realized  my  folly,  and,  had  I  been  able,  should 
have  returned  to  my  master. 

We  went  to  the  city  of  Cambridge,  where  we  enlisted 
in  the  Eleventh  Hussars,  of  the  British  army,  commanded 
by  Col.  Cardigan,  for  fourteen  years,  with  the  promise  of 
going  out  to  the  Crimean  war.  We  were  sent  to  London 
and  inspected  by  a  board  of  surgeons,  and  in  a  few  days, 
with  about  fifty  others,  lowered  into  the  hold  of  a  steamer, 
where  straw  had  been  thrown  for  us  to  lie  upon,  and 
taken  across  the  channel  to  Dublin.  Upon  our  arrival 
there,  we  were  sent  to  a  receiving  p6st  for  recruits,  called 
Biggar's  Bush.  Here  were  congregated  a  motley  crowd 
of  young  men,  enlisted  from  all  classes  of  English  society ; 
here  were  wealth  and  poverty,  intelligence  and  ignorance 
side  by  side,  but  all  were  animated  by  the  same  purpose ; 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A   VETERAN. 


all  willing  to  share  alike  the  dangers  and  privations  of 
war.  We  were  there  allotted  each  our  bunks,  and  allowed 
to  go  around  the  city,  with  the  order  to  be  back  again  pre- 
cisely at  nine  o'clock  P.  M.  Three  of  us  started  out,  and 
one  of  our  number,  claiming  to  be  acquainted  with  the 
city,  assumed  the  responsibility  of  guide.  We  traveled 
considerably  about  the  city,  and  called  on  a  great  many 
of  his  friends,  who,  by  the  way,  invariably  charged  us 
for  the  visit.  We  walked  so  far  that  when  nine  o'clock 
came,  instead  of  being  at  our  quarters  we  were  about 
four  miles  from  the  barracks,  and  what  was  worse,  our 
faithful  (?)  guide  was  beastly  drunk.  We  walked  and 
dragged  him  along  until  tired,  and  finally  hired  a  jaunting- 
car  to  take  us  back,  arriving  there  at  twelve  o'clock,  when 
we  were  quickly  marched  to  the  guard-house.  In  my 
retirement  I  began  to  think  I  was  not  endowed  with  the 
requirements  essential  to  the  making  of  a  good  soldier, 
having  the  first  night  of  my  military  career  violated  the 
law  and  been  punished  for  it. 


10  REMINISCENCES  OF  A   VETERAN. 


CHAPTER    II. 

|UR  punishment  the  next  day  was  to  wash 
all  the  tables  and  benches,  and  to  go  down 
on  our  knees  and  scrub  the  floors.  It  is 
needless  to  say  that  after  this  we  always 
got  in  on  time.  We  remained  here  about 
a  week,  and  then  were  marched  to  the  railway  station 
and  taken  about  twenty-five  miles  into  the  country,  to- 
Newbridge,  in  the  County  of  Kildare,  where  was  located 
very  large  barracks,  which  could  easily  accommodate 
a  full  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  where  a  portion  of  our 
regiment  was  stationed,  the  remainder  having  gone  to 
the  Crimea.  Here  we  were  again  examined  by  regimen- 
tal surgeons,  after  which  we  were  sent  to  our  respective 
troops,  mine  being  Troop  B,  No.  1662.  We  were  taken  to 
the  regimental  tailor  and  measured  for  clothing,  and  then 
sent  to  school  to  test  our  education.  If  the  examina- 
tion was  satisfactory,  we  were  graduated  in  a  few  days.  A 
full  kit  was  given  us,  consisting  of  the  following  articles  : 
One  pair  each  of  white  and  flannel  shirts,  two  pairs  of 
drawers,  two  pairs  of  socks,  one  pair  of  shoes,  one  pair 
of  boots,  towels,  shoe  and  horse  brushes,  combs,  spurs, 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  II 

razors ;  in  short,  everything  essential  for  comfort  and 
cleanliness.  To  each  was  given  a  young  horse,  wild 
from  the  moors  of  Ireland,  that  had  never  been  ridden, 
and  which  we  had  to  break  in. 

At  5:30  reveille  was  sounded,  and,  forming  in  front 
of  the  quarters,  the  roll  was  called  and  we  were  inspected 
by  the  sergeant.  Our  shoes  must  be  polished,  as  well 
as  the  brass  buckles  on  them,  and  we  were  then  marched 
to  the  stables,  where  for  an  hour  we  groomed  our  horses, 
after  which  we  were  marched  to  breakfast.  That  meal 
being  disposed  of,  we  were  taken  to  riding,  or,  perhaps, 
it  might  more  appropriately  be  termed  tumbling  school, 
for  most  of  us,  being  inexperienced  horsemen,  were  sub- 
ject to  many  falls,  but  generally  without  serious  accident, 
as  the  horses  were  old  and  used  solely  for  that  purpose. 
After  two  hours  of  this  painful  exercise,  an  hour  was 
devoted  to  our  young  horses  in  the  forage  yard,  where 
the  hay  and  straw  were  stored,  and  more  ground  and  lofty 
tumbling  was  participated  in.  At  eleven  we  were  marched 
back  to  the  stables  and  another  hour  was  devoted  to 
cleaning  horses.  Then  came  dinner;  after  that,  until  two, 
we  pipe-clayed  our  belts  and  gloves,  chrome-yellowed  our 
stripes,  and  burnished  our  accoutrements.  Two  hours' 
drill  with  sword  and  carbine  followed,  and  at  five  we 
again  returned  to  the  stables  for  another  hour's  grooming. 
After  supper  we  were  allowed  to  go  out  of  the  garrison, 
to  mingle  with  the  townsfolk  and  spend  our  day's  earn- 
ings, amounting  to  about  twelve  cents,  which  was  paid  to 


12  REMINISCENCES  OF  A   VETERAN. 


us  daily.  At  nine  each  man  had  to  be  in  garrison  and 
answer  roll-call.  That  ended  our  day's  duty. 

I  began  to  think  that  the  wearing  of  a  gaudy  regimen- 
tal suit,  with  clanking  sword  and  jingling  spurs,  was  not 
all  pleasure,  and  that  the  printing-office  was  not  the 
hardest  place  after  all. 

I  was  much  disappointed  at  not  going  with  my  regiment, 
but  I  have  no  reason  to  regret  it,  as  they  formed  part  of 
" the  gallant  six  hundred"  who  made  the  memorable 
charge  at  Balaklava ;  and  had  I  gone,  as  I  expected,  I 
might  have  fallen,  as  did  many  of  my  comrades  in  that 
terrible  charge. 

Believing  that  I  was  not  to  see  active  service,  I  de- 
termined, if  possible,  to  purchase  my  discharge  (that 
being  the  law  of  England),  so  wrote  to  my  father  a  very 
repentant  letter,  asking  him  to  send  me  the  amount  for 
that  purpose.  In  the  meantime  I  sent  in  an  application 
for  my  discharge,  but,  greatly  to  my  disappointment,  it 
was  refused. 

They  having  broken  their  promises,  I  did  not  feel  it 
incumbent  upon  me  to  keep  mine,  and  so  determined  to 
take  a  furlough  for  an  indefinite  period.  While  taking 
dinner  one  day,  a  letter  was  handed  me  from  my  father 
containing  a  check  for  £20.  I  immediately  donned  my 
uniform  and  started  for  Dublin,  taking  a  comrade  with 
me  named  Grogan.  On  reaching  there  and  going  to  the 
bank,  I  found,  to  my  dismay,  that  the  check  was  not  pay- 
able for  three  days ;  so  to  while  away  the  time  we  went  to 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A   VETERAN.  13 

the  theatre  in  the  evening,  and  the  next  morning  started 
back  to  the  regiment,  and  were  again  marched  to  the 
guard-house.  The  same  morning  I  was  taken  before  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  barracks,  to  give  reasons  for 
absenting  myself  from  duty  without  permission.  My 
excuses  were  very  poor,  and  had  it  not  been  for  my  cap- 
tain, who  gave  me  an  excellent  character,  I  should  have 
been  punished,  but  was  let  off,  with  the  understanding 
that  if  the  offense  was  repeated  I  should  be  severely 
dealt  with.  My  comrade  was  less  fortunate,  this  not  being 
his  first  offense ;  he  was  sentenced  to  jail  for  ten  days, 
to  walk  a  ring  with  his  kit  on  his  back  four  hours  each 
day,  and  have  his  head  shaved.  I  went  to  the  postmaster 
of  the  village,  and  engaged  him  to  get  the  money  on  the 
check,  which  he  did,  getting  it  in  about  three  weeks. 
During  that  time  I  carefully  discharged  all  my  duties. 

My  last  day's  service  in  the  regiment  was  that  of 
colonel's  orderly,  a  position  given  as  a  reward  of  merit 
to  neat  soldiers.  On  that  day  a  fair  was  held  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  in  the  evening  the  soldiers  were  out  and  having 
a  "high  old  time"  at  the  tavern.  Only  one  thing  was 
lacking  to  make  the  evening's  amusement  a  complete 
success,  and  that  was  a  dance,  but  no  music  could  be 
had,  until  some  one  intimated  that  I  played  the  violin t 
One  of  them  was  immediately  despatched  to  the  garrison, 
and  soon  returned  with  a  violin.  A  table,  with  a  chair 
upon  it,  was  placed  in  one  corner  of  the  large  room,  and 
I  was  installed  upon  it.  The  way  those  Irish  lasses 


14  REMINISCENCES  OF  A   VETERAN. 

"  raked  down  "  the  "  Rocky  Roads  to  Dublin,"  "  Irish 
Washerwoman,"  etc.,  was  quite  amusing.  I  played  until 
nearly  nine  o'clock,  when  my  comrade,  Grogan,  came  and 
informed  me  that  the  money  had  come.  We  repaired  at 
once  to  the  post-office  and  received  it,  starting  directly 
to  the  tavern  to  engage  a  jaunting-car  and  driver  to  take 
us  to  Dublin.  Grogan  went  in,  while  I  waited  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street,  where  was  a  high  wall  which 
surrounded  the  barracks.  While  waiting  there,  the  patrol 
came  around  to  gather  up  all  soldiers,  who  were  supposed 
to  be  in  barracks  by  nine  o'clock.  They  halted  in  front 
of  the  tavern  and  then  went  in ;  at  the  same  time  I  was 
crawling  upon  my  hands  and  knees  towards  a  small 
bridge.  As  the  patrol  went  in  at  the  front  door,  Grogan 
and  the  driver  with  his  car  came  out  of  the  yard  ;  not 
finding  me,  they  became  alarmed,  fearing  that  I  had  been 
taken  and  carried  to  the  guard-house,  but  driving  up  to 
the  bridge  were  pleased  to  find  me  waiting  there. 

We  reached  Dublin  about  daybreak,  and  went  directly 
to  a  hotel.  A  friend,  who  understood  the  case,  came  to 
our  assistance,  and,  after  breakfast,  went  and  purchased 
clothing  for  us  throughout,  as  everything  in  the  army  is 
marked  with  name  of  regiment  and  number  of  soldier. 

We  now  had  the  most  dangerous  part  of  our  under- 
taking, that  of  passing  the  sentinels  on  the  dock  at  the 
steamboat  landing,  especially  as  my  comrade's  head  had 
so  recently  been  shaved.  To  avoid  detection  on  that 
account  he  devised  an  ingenious  method,  by  purchasing 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A   VETERAN.  15 

two  locks  of  hair,  which  were  sewed  one  cm  each  side  of 
his  cap,  and  answered  the  purpose  admirably.  We  were 
accompanied  by  a  soldier  and  by  two  girls  who  represented 
themselves  as  our  sisters,  and  pretended  to  be  overcome 
with  grief  at  our  departure.  It  was  a  moment  of  terrible 
suspense,  as  we  knew  that  if  we  were  caught,  especially  in 
citizens'  clothing,  our  punishment  would  be  very  severe. 
We  passed  safely,  however,  and  when  the  boat  started, 
after  waiting  what  seemed  to  us  almost  an  age,  our  fears 
greatly  subsided,  and  we  breathed  more  freely. 

We  reached  Liverpool  at  daybreak  the  next  morning. 
It  was  foggy  and  rainy  —  the  miserable  weather  that 
is  peculiar  to  that  city.  How  dismal  it  was  in  those 
dark  and  dreary  streets  !  Not  caring  to  go  to  a  hotel,  we 
wandered  around  for  some  time,  meeting  at  last  an  old 
Irishman,  who,  upon  learning  our  wants,  kindly  took 
us  to  his  house,  which,  from  appearances,  indicated  ex- 
treme poverty.  We  gave  him  money  to  purchase  food,  and 
he  returned  in  a  short  time  with  some  sausages  and  bread, 
which,  with  a  mug  of  beer,  made  us  an  excellent  meal. 
After  breakfast  we  went  to  the  shipping  office  and  se- 
cured berths  on  board  the  sailing  vessel,  Isaac  Wright, 
of  the  Black  Ball  Line,  which  was  announced  to  sail  for 
America  that  afternoon,  but  did  not  for  three  days.  This 
delay  caused  us  the  greatest  anxiety,  as  we  knew  that 
one  of  our  sergeants  was  recruiting  in  Liverpool,  and 
that  the  names  of  all  soldiers  absenting  themselves  three 
days  from  their  regiment  would  be  published  in  a  paper 


1 6  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


called  the  Hue  and  Cry,  and  sent  to  every  police  sta- 
tion and  recruiting  rendezvous  throughout  the  country. 
Previous  to  embarking,  I  sent  a  letter  to  my  parents,  who 
were  daily  expecting  me  home,  stating  that  I  had  taken 
passage  to  America. 

I  was  awakened  on  Sunday  morning  by  the  noise 
from  the  hoisting  of  the  anchor,  and  on  reaching  the 
deck  found  our  vessel  in  motion,  a  small  steamer  being 
alongside,  towing  us  out  of  the  harbor.  It  would  be  im- 
possible to  describe  my  feelings  at  that  instant ;  I  felt 
sad,  and  at  the  same  time  glad.  My  sadness  was  caused 
by  the  thought  of  leaving  home  and  friends,  without  even 
the  privilege  of  bidding  them  good-by, — friends  whom, 
in  all  probability,  I  should  never  see  again,  and  going  to  a 
foreign  land,  among  entire  strangers ;  while  I  was  glad  to 
think  I  was  escaping  from  cruel  hardship,  and  going  to 
a  country  whose  government  recognized  no  titles,  where 
rich  and  poor,  high  and  low,  all  shared  alike. 

"  Here  we  had  toil  and  little  to  reward  us, 
But  there  shall  plenty  smile  upon  our  pains." 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  17 


CHAPTER   III. 

E  made  good  progress  the  first  week,  having 
made  a  "  fine  run."  Our  diet  was  wretched, 
there  being  no  law  at  that  time  regulat- 
ing the  food  issued  on  emigrant  vessels. 
Twice  a  week  rations  were  served  out, 
which  consisted  of  a  little  rice,  sugar,  tea,  a  few  potatoes, 
some  biscuit,  with  a  pint  of  water  daily,  for  cooking  and 
drinking  purposes,  to  each  individual.  Having  eight  hun- 
dred emigrants  on  board,  it  generally  took  all  day  to  get 
it,  and  another  day  to  have  it  cooked.  Whether  it  was 
the  toll  for  cooking  or  the  shrinkage  I  do  not  know,  but 
we  never  got  more  than  half  back  of  what  we  handed  in. 
Having  nothing  but  salt  water  to  wash  in,  we  seldom 
washed ;  the  result  was  that  in  a  short  time  we  were  over- 
run with  vermin. 

About  the  tenth  day  out  we  had  a  violent  storm,  last- 
ing nearly  three  days.  So  severe  was  it  that  the  hatches 
were  fastened  down,  and  we  could  get  no  food  cooked, 
and  had  nothing  to  eat  but  hard  biscuit.  I  will  not 
attempt  to  describe  the  sufferings  in  the  steerage  those 
three  days ;  what  with  the  sickness,  filth,  and  misery,  it 
is  indeed  a  wonder  how  they  lived  through  it. 


1 8  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

About  the  middle  of  the  voyage  we  had  one  death,  that 
of  a  young  man,  who,  with  his  sister,  was  seeking  their 
fortunes  in  the  new  world.  It  was  sad  to  witness  the 
grief  of  that  poor  young  girl  beside  the  dead  body  of  her 
brother.  There  being  no  clergyman  on  board,  the  sailors 
performed  the  funeral  ceremony,  which,  though  solemn 
the  occasion,  was  somewhat  heathenish.  Early  in  the 
morning  the  body  was  brought  on  deck  by  the  crew  and, 
with  a  large  piece  of  iron,  sewed  up  in  canvas,  then  lifted 
and,  with  the  summons  of  "one,  two,  three,"  thrown 
over  the  side  of  the  vessel ;  the  waters  closed  over  it, 
and  it  passed  to  "  The  undiscovered  country,  from  whose 
bourn  no  traveler  returns."  It  was  a  quiet,  sympathetic 
funeral,  and  at  its  close  the  passengers  sorrowfully  retired 
to  their  filthy  berths,  many  doubtless  thinking  the  lot  of 
that  young  man  preferable  to  theirs. 

After  the  storm  we  had  a  calm  for  several  days,  which 
was  very  trying,  and  we  became  exceedingly  impatient, 
congregating  in  groups  upon  the  deck  and  discussing 
our  hard  fate.  How  natural  it  is  to  be  discontented,  for 
if  we  have  not  great  trials  we  magnify  small  ones,  and 
pity  ourselves  for  such  misfortunes. 

An  event  occurred  during  this  interval  which  made  an 
impression  on  my  mind,  and  for  years  after  I  could  not 
refer  to  it  without  feelings  of  sadness.  One  night  the 
sailors  broke  open  all  the  trunks  they  could  find,  stealing 
clothing  and  other  valuables  belonging  to  the  emigrants. 
Complaints  were  made  to  the  captain,  who  did  his  utmost 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  19 

to  find  the  perpetrators  of  the  theft,  but  without  avail. 
A  short  time  after  the  second  mate  had  occasion  to  go  to 
the  chain  locker,  and  there  found  the  stolen  goods.  After 
watching  awhile  he  discovered  the  thieves,  and  made  his 
report  to  the  captain,  who  ordered  the  articles  to  be 
brought  upon  deck,  likewise  the  robbers.  The  latter 
were  tied  to  the  side  of  the  vessel,  with  their  hands 
behind  them,  and  the  captain,  taking  a  belaying  pin, 
pounded  them  on  their  heads  and  faces  until  they  were 
one  mass  of  gore,  repeating  it  once  an  hour,  until  those 
from  whom  the  property  was  stolen  begged  him  to  desist ; 
but  he  threatened  to  serve  them  in  the  same  manner  if 
he  was  in  any  way  interrupted.  It  was  pitiful  to  hear 
the  pleadings  of  the  men,  begging  for  mercy,  as  the  tears 
coursed  down  their  faces,  and,  mingling  with  the  blood, 
dropped  to  the  deck,  but  to  all  such  entreaties  he  turned 
a  deaf  ear.  Indeed,  to  such  a  pitch  was  his  anger 
aroused  that  he  acted  more  like  a  fiend  than  a  human 
being.  The  poor  fellows  were  left  there  until  the  middle 
of  the  afternoon,  when  their  shipmates  released  and 
assisted  them  to  their  berths.  Such  looking  beings 
and  such  brutal  punishment  I  hope  never  to  witness 
again.  My  feelings  were  so  wrought  up  by  this  occur- 
rence that  had  any  one  of  the  victims  of  this  inhuman 
barbarity  killed  that  brutal  commander  I  should  not  have 
blamed  him  in  the  least. 

One  morning  a  quantity  of  seaweed  was  seen  floating 
around,  which  was  a  source  of  great  surprise  and  pleas- 


20  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

ure  to  us,  for  it  was  a  harbinger  of  land.  We  were 
told  that  we  were  crossing  the  Grand  Banks.  It  seemed 
rather  strange  that  no  banks  or  land  of  any  kind  were 
visible,  still  it  was  a  delightful  change  to  even  see  some- 
thing verdant.  After  this  we  watched  anxiously  every 
day,  expecting  to  see  land.  Many  days  elapsed,  however, 
before  that  sight  greeted  our  anxious  gaze;  we  had  then 
been  about  forty  days  at  sea.  By  this  time  all  the  ro- 
mance of  a  sea  voyage,  which  had  been  conjured  up  in 
my  youth  by  a  perusal  of  Robinson  Crusoe  and  similar 
books,  had  well-nigh  died  out.  Two  days  after  a  tug-boat 
came  alongside  and  took  us  in  tow,  and  on  a  Sunday, 
after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks,  a  dirty,  half-starved  lot  of 
emigrants  reached  New  York  ;  but  our  hearts  were  light, 
and  many  thanks  were  returned  to  Him  who  had  pre- 
served us  through  so  many  dangers. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


21 


CHAPTER  IV. 

REQUEST  was  made  to  us  to  remain  on 
board  until  the  next  morning,  but  the  tempta- 
tion to  go  on  shore  was  too  strong  to  resist. 
We  were  anxious  to  know  how  it  would 
seem  to  walk  on  land  again,  and  six  of  us 
got  upon  the  wharf  and  strolled  to  the  street.  At  the 
corner  we  saw  a  saloon,  which  one  of  the  party  proposed 
to  enter ;  I  was  loath  to  go  in,  for,  on  taking  account  of 
stock,  after  paying  both  our  fares,  buying  clothing,  bed- 
ding, etc.,  my  purse  contained  somewhere  in  the  vicinity 
of  seventy-five  cents  ;  nevertheless  we  all  went  in,  and 
the  drinks  were  called  for.  The  bar-tender  was  quite 
amused  at  seeing  such  a  pack  of  greenhorns  enter  the 
saloon,  but  he  placed  the  bottle  and  glasses  before  us. 
Strange  as  it  may  appear,  no  one  reached  for  it,  not 
knowing  how  much  to  pour  out,  that  not  being  the  cus- 
tom in  England  ;  so  we  waited  and  looked  at  each  other, 
anxious  for  some  one  to  make  a  start,  but  no  one  had 
the  courage.  We  were  relieved  from  our  embarrassing 
position  by  the  entrance  of  an  old  soaker,  who,  with 
trembling  hand,  poured  out  his  drink ;  all  eyes  were  upon 


22  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

him ;  we  gauged  his  tumbler  exactly,  and  when  taking 
ours  were  very  careful  not  to  get  any  more  than  we 
thought  the  old  man  had  taken,  which  was  by  no  means 
a  small  drink.  It  being  Sunday  evening  the  streets  were 
rather  quiet,  so  we  returned  to  the  vessel. 

Early  the  next  morning  the  sharks  (boarding-house 
keepers)  came  on  board  and  captured  all  they  could. 
Four  of  us  went  with  an  Irishman,  who  described  his 
house  as  being  one  of  the  most  comfortable  in  the  city ; 
we  thought  ourselves  fortunate  in  meeting  with  such  a 
chance,  and  readily  went  with  him.  It  was  a  great  sur- 
prise as  well  as  disappointment  to  find  his  abode  such 
an  "  old  shell "  as  it  proved  to  be. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  day  my  funds  gave  out,  but  he 
consented  to  keep  me  a  few  days,  or  until  I  could  obtain 
work.  Our  first  night  in  this  house  was  very  unpleasant, 
they  crowding  four  of  us  into  a  small  room.  Shortly 
after  putting  out  the  candle,  we  were  beset  by  something 
which  at  the  time  we  thought  were  bees ;  they  buzzed, 
stung,  and  tormented  us  so  that  we  slept  but  very  little. 
The  next  morning  our  faces  were  so  swollen  that  we  could 
scarcely  open  our  eyes.  On  inquiry,  we  were  told  they 
were  mosquitoes,  a  pest  whose  habits  we  were  entirely 
ignorant  of,  not  having  such  things  in  England.  Before 
retiring  the  next  night  we  brought  our  slippers  into  play 
and  slaughtered  all  we  could  find,  and  rested  somewhat 
better. 

I  stayed  there  three  or  four  days.     My  comrade  being 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  23 

a  very  fine  musician,  in  the  mean  time  obtained  a  sit- 
uation in  a  band,  and  occupied  quarters*  with  them. 
Failing  to  get  employment,  my  genial  Irishman  turned 
me  out  into  the  street,  at  the  same  time  taking  my  scanty 
wardrobe,  worth,  perhaps,  twenty  dollars. 

I  wandered  about  the  streets  the  first  night,  and  oh, 
what  a  long,  dreary  night  it  was ;  it  seemed  as  if  morn- 
ing would  never  come.  The  stores  and  saloons  kept 
closing  one  by  one,  until  the  streets  were  almost  deserted. 
Occasionally  I  would  meet  a  policeman,  who  would  look 
suspiciously  at  me.  I  remember  entering  the  office  of  a 
hotel  and  taking  a  seat  in  one  of  the  nice,  cosy  arm- 
chairs. Being  very  tired  I  immediately  fell  asleep.  My 
slumber  was  of  short  duration,  as  I  was  rudely  awakened 
and  ordered  to  leave.  I  passed  the  remainder  of  the 
night  in  the  City  Hall  park.  The  next  day  I  visited 
many  printing-offices,  but  failed  to  get  employment.  I 
was  sadly  discouraged,  weary,  and  hungry,  as  I  had  eaten 
nothing  since  the  morning  before.  I  envied  everybody  I 
met,  thinking  that  they  all  had  business  of  some  kind, 
a  home,  and  friends  to  meet  there,  while  I  had  none. 

My  comrade  had  as  yet  received  no  pay  for  his  ser- 
vices, except  his  board,  but  succeeded  in  borrowing  eight 
cents,  which  he  kindly  divided  with  me.  Now  it  so  hap- 
pened that  one  of  those  cents  was  very  much  battered, 
so  much  that  it  was  a  matter  of  doubt  whether  it  would 
pass.  This  created  quite  a  dispute,  as  neither  wished  to 
take  it,  and  it  nearly  caused  a  separation  between  us ; 


24  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

however,  I  finally  took  it,  at  least  I  had  to,  or  go  without. 
My  reason  for  not  wanting  to  take  that  dilapidated  piece 
of  currency  was,  that  I  wished  to  go  to  Brooklyn  in  pur- 
suit of  work,  and,  as  the  fare  was  two  cents  each  way,  it 
might,  perhaps,  place  me  in  rather  an  awkward  position. 
I  went  across  the  ferry  and  sought  for  work,  but  without 
success.  Being  very  hungry  and  somewhat  tired,  I  was 
urged  to  spend  my  remaining  two  cents  for  something  to 
eat,  and  accordingly  bought  some  apples.  I  can  remem- 
ber no  time  when  apples  ever  tasted  so  good  to  me. 
When  evening  came  I  could  not  get  across  the  ferry.  I 
tried  to  squeeze  in  behind  the  crowd,  but  it  would  not 
work,  so  I  went  boldly  up  to  the  gate-keeper  and  told 
him  that  I  had  left  my  boarding-house  in  the  morning 
and  had  neglected  bringing  my  purse,  and  if  he  would 
let  me  pass  I  would  pay  the  next  time  I  came.  I  had  a 
small  ring,  a  present  from  a  dear  friend  in  England,  which 
I  offered  to  leave  as  security,  but,  looking  at  me  a  sec- 
ond, he  told  me  to  keep  my  ring  and  pass  along. 

I  walked  that  night  until  about  eleven  o'clock,  when 
I  crawled  into  a  baker's  cart,  which  was  standing  in  a 
back  street  in  the  Bowery.  It  was  a  rather  hard  bed,  but 
far  preferable  to  walking  the  streets.  The  next  morning 
while  walking  in  Fulton  market  a  gentleman  in  a  carriage 
with  a  fine  span  of  horses  drove  up,  and,  upon  alighting, 
requested  me  to  hold  them,  which  I  was  only  too  glad  to 
do.  Upon  his  return  he  gave  me  two  small  silver  pieces, 
which  provided  me  with  something  to  eat  for  two  days. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  25 

As  I  passed  through  the  different  markets,  my  attention 
was  frequently  called  to  pyramids  of  very  attractive-look- 
ing cakes,  made  in  different  shapes,  some  long  and 
twisted,  while  others  were  in  rings.  They  were  so  at- 
tractive that  I  was  tempted  to  purchase  one.  It  could 
not  be  that  I  was  too  well  fed,  or  even  fastidious,  but  I 
must  confess  that  I  was  never  more  disappointed  in  any- 
thing eatable  than  I  was  in  the  American  doughnut. 

I  lived  sparingly  and  cheaply,  and  my  lodgings  cost 
me  nothing,  as  I  always  found  the  baker's  cart  in  its 
usual  place.  It  was  never  convenient  for  me  to  see  the 
proprietor  of  that  concern,  as  I  always  arrived  there  very 
late  at  night,  and  left  very  early  in  the  morning,  so  that 
my  lodging  remains  unpaid  to  this  day. 

I  found  it  very  refreshing,  and  I  think  somewhat  nour- 
ishing, to  inhale  the  fumes  that  arose  from  the  food  being 
cooked  at  the  different  restaurants,  and  at  such  places 
I  might  have  been  seen  frequently  during  the  day. 

One  evening  my  comrade  came  with  three  dollars, 
which  had  been  paid  him  for  band  services,  and  invited 
me  to  an  eating  saloon,  where  I  partook  of  an  excellent 
supper.  I  did  not  think  it  possible  for  me  to  eat  so 
much  at  one  meal,  but  living  on  apples  four  days  created 
a  wonderful  appetite. 

The  most  egregious  folly  I  ever  was  guilty  of  occurred 
this  evening.  After  paying  for  my  supper,  we  invested 
the  remainder  in  tickets  for  the  theatre,  knowing  that 
when  the  play  was  over  I  should  have  to  walk  the  streets 


26  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

or  wend  my  way  to  the  baker's  cart ;  but  that  considera- 
tion was  nothing  compared  to  the  treat  of  hearing  that 
magnificent  orchestra,  and  seeing  the  great  Ned  Forrest 
in  Othello.  Among  that  vast  audience  I  do  not  think, 
for  the  time  being,  there  was  a  person  whose  mind  was 
more  free  from  care  than  mine.  After  the  play  was  over 
I  stole  silently  to  my  yellow-painted  bower  and  enjoyed 
a  sound  and  refreshing  sleep. 

The  next  week,  Jim  (that  was  my  comrade's  name) 
played  several  times,  so  that  I  generally  had  a  good  sup- 
per every  night ;  but  I  became  tired  of  this  way  of  living, 
and  having  tried  in  vain  for  work  in  all  parts  of  the  city, 
I  proposed  to  Jim,  who  had  a  few  dollars  ahead,  that  we 
go  to  some  other  city,  which  was  not  so  crowded,  and  see 
if  we  could  not  both  get  employment ;  and  that,  as  he  had 
a  brother  here  who  emigrated  about  a  year  before,  per- 
haps we  might  find  him.  To  this  he  readily  agreed, 
so  the  next  night  we  went  down  to  the  wharf  with  the 
intention  of  going  to  Philadelphia.  On  arriving  there 
we  were  informed  that  the  boat  did  not  go  until  the  next 
evening.  This  was  very  disappointing  to  us,  especially 
as  our  baggage  was  here,  consisting  of  a  small  carpet- 
bag and  a  bundle.  We  had  a  bountiful  supply  of  food, 
having  bought  a  loaf  of  bread,  with  about  two  feet  of 
real  German  sausage. 

As  we  had  concluded  to  leave  that  night,  we  took  a 
boat  that  was  about  starting  for  Albany,  at  the  next  wharf, 
leaving  there  about  eight  o'clock.  Having  taken  a  cheap 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  2J 

passage,  we  were  compelled  to  sleep  on  deck ;  I  really 
did  not  think  it  quite  equal  to  my  Bowery  loaging,  never- 
theless I  slept  tolerably  well.  Jim  grumbled  all  night,  as 
he  was  not  accustomed  to  so  hard  a  bed.  There  were  a 
great  many  Germans  on  board,  most  of  whom  carried 
food  for  the  night,  which,  as  near  as  I  could  judge,  con- 
sisted of  onions  and  Dutch  cheese,  and  the  scent  that 
arose  at  intervals  was,  even  to  me,  very  annoying. 

We  reached  Albany  early  the  next  morning,  and,  after 
partaking  of  a  very  cheap  breakfast,  set  forth  in  quest  of 
employment.  I  visited  several  printing-offices,  but  all 
complained  of  dull  times,  and  I  failed  to  get  work.  In 
going  down  one  of  the  streets,  feeling  rather  discouraged, 
we  passed  a  recruiting  rendezvous,  having  a  large  poster 
in  front,  with  this  announcement :  "  Wanted  in  the  U.  S. 
Army  a  few  good-looking,  intelligent,  active  young  men. 
Will  be  paid  eleven  dollars  per  month,  with  board  and 
clothing."  To  us  that  seemed  excellent  pay,  and  I  was 
egotistical  enough  to  think  we  could  meet  all  the  require- 
ments expressed  in  the  bill.  Jim  favored  the  idea  of 
enlisting,  but  I  was  not  yet  prepared  for  such  a  step,  and 
hurriedly  left.  We  were  advised  to  go  to  Troy,  an  ad- 
joining town,  where  a  short  time  before  a  printer  had 
advertised  for  help.  Accordingly,  we  hastened  at  once 
to  that  town,  but  ill  luck  seemed  to  follow  us,  for  on 
reaching  there  we  were  told  that  they  had  all  the  help 
they  needed,  and  the  same  story  was  repeated  at  all 
the  other  offices  in  that  place. 


28  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

It  was,  indeed,  discouraging  to  meet  with  so  many  dis- 
appointments, following  so  closely  together,  and  I  began 
to  think  that  perhaps  our  green  and  awkward  appearance 
might  have  something  to  do  with  our  inability  to  obtain 
employment. 

We  trudged  along  the  principal  road  leading  out  of 
town,  not  knowing  nor  caring  whither  it  led,  but  thinking 
perhaps  something  might  turn  up,  until  we  came  to  a 
place  called  Cohoes.  This  was  a  small  town,  and  we 
did  not  anticipate  meeting  with  any  success,  nor  were  we 
disappointed,  for,  as  usual,  business  was  depressed,  and 
again  we  met  with  failure.  Our  stay  here  was  quite  brief, 
and  we  again  took  a  road  leading  out  of  town  and  came 
to  the  banks  of  a  canal,  with  numerous  boats  upon  it, 
having  "  Buffalo "  painted  on  their  sterns.  We  con- 
cluded it  must  be  quite  a  large  place,  and,  possibly, 
work  could  be  obtained  there.  So  we  started  along  its 
banks,  expecting  to  reach  there  in  a  short  time,  not  think- 
ing for  a  moment  that  it  was  something  over  two  hundred 
miles  distant. 


.REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  29 


CHAPTER  V. 

FTER  walking  a  few  miles,  Jim  became  very 
tired,  and  wanted  to  go  back  to  Albany 
and  enlist.  He  could  not  get  that  eleven 
dollars  a  month  out  of  his  head.  The 
thought  was,  indeed,  quite  enchanting  to 
such  poor  weary  wanderers,  but  I  opposed  all  his  ideas 
in  that  direction.  He  finally  proposed  to  "  toss  up,"  to 
see  whether  we  should  go  back  or  not ;  if  he  won,  we 
were  to  return ;  but  if  I  was  the  winner,  we  were  to  keep 
on  to  Buffalo.  So  we  tossed  up  a  jack-knife,  being 
sadly  deficient  in  coppers,  "  nick  or  no  nick,"  and  I  won 
the  first  toss.  He  was  not  satisfied  with  the  result,  and 
insisted  on  best  two  in  three,  "for,"  said  he,  "who  ever 
heard  of  settling  so  great  a  question  as  this  with  only  one 
toss?"  So  up  went  the  knife,  and  I  was  again  the  win- 
ner. We  jogged  along  a  few  miles  further,  until  Jim 
fairly  gave  out ;  he  was  not  only  tired,  but  hungry,  our 
bread  and  sausage  having  long  since  given  out,  and  he 
insisted  upon  having  another  toss.  I  said  everything  I 
could  think  of  to  keep  up  his  courage,  telling  him  several 
funny  stories,  and  pictured  to  him  the  nice  times  we 
should  in  all  probability  have  together  after  we  got  to 


30  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

Buffalo,  where  I  felt  assured  we  could  obtain  work.  I 
told  him  there  were  thousands  of  people  whose  misfor- 
tunes were  far  greater  than  ours.  But  all  my  talk  availed 
nothing;  it  would  not  cover  up  that  eleven  dollars  a 
month  with  board  and  clothing.  So  I  once  more  indulged 
him,  but  with  the  understanding  that  the  first  toss  should 
decide  it.  Up  went  the  knife  again,  and  once  more  I 
was  the  winner.  Poor  Jim  !  His  face  was  the  picture  of 
despair  ;  tears  actually  stood  in  his  eyes,  and  he  breathed 
a  heavy  sigh,  which  appeared  to  come  from  the  very  bot- 
tom of  his  heart.  I  really  sympathized  with  him,  but  felt 
that  I  was  working  for  our  best  interests. 

We  started  along  again,  but  only  for  a  short  distance ; 
Jim's  feet  were  sore,  and  mine  were  not  much  better, 
though  I  dared  not  manifest  any  sign  of  discouragement. 
He  was  hungry  and  tired,  and,  with  many  other  excuses, 
declared  he  would  go  no  further,  and  urged  me  to  toss 
and  give  him  one  more  chance.  Now  I  do  not  wish  to 
boast  of  my  strength  of  mind,  but  I  really  think  that  on 
that  day's  tramp  I  displayed  an  unusual  amount  of  firm- 
ness. Once  more  the  knife  went  up,  and  again  fortune 
favored  me,  but  Jim  would  not  abide  by  the  decision,  and 
declared  his  determination  to  return,  whether  I  went  or 
not.  Further  talk  I  knew  was  useless,  so  at  last,  con- 
trary to  my  feelings,  I  relented,  and  we  went  back  to 
Cohoes.  A  train  coming  in  shortly  after  our  arrival,  we 
approached  the  conductor  and  asked  him  to  let  us  ride  to 
Albany,  informing  him  that  we  had  neither  money  nor 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  31 

friends.  He  was  one  of  those  jovial,  large-hearted  men, 
who,  being  happy  himself,  endeavored  to  make- everybody 
else  so.  He  told  us  to  jump  on,  and  as  we  were  riding 
along  he  inquired  where  we  came  from,  where  we  were 
going,  and  all  about  us,  and,  I  suppose,  sympathized  with 
us,  for  as  we  left  the  cars  he  gave  us  a  note  to  a  board- 
ing-house, instructing  the  proprietor  to  give  us  supper, 
lodging,  and  breakfast,  and  charge  it  to  him.  That  man 
was  a  true  Christian.  God  bless  him.  Such  disinter- 
ested benevolence  must  receive  its  reward. 

We  ate  supper  with  a  good  relish,  disposing  of  almost 
everything  set  before  us.  The  proprietor  evidently 
thought  us  great  gluttons,  for  he  inquired  how  many 
times  we  ate  in  a  day. 

After  breakfast  the  next  morning  we  went  to  the  re- 
cruiting office,  and  after  being  inspected  by  a  surgeon, 
were,  on  the  i4th  day  of  October,  1854,  enlisted  as  pri- 
vate soldiers,  for  five  years,  in  the  United  States  Army. 

Although  then  much  opposed  to  entering  the  army, 
I  now  think  it  was  the  best  step  I  could  have  taken, 
for  I  not  only  acquired  the  customs  of  the  country,  but 
from  my  small  earnings  saved  enough  to  give  me  a 
fair  start  at  the  expiration  of  my  term  of  service. 

We  were  kept  at  the  rendezvous  until  a  squad  of  twelve 
were  enlisted,  which  took  nearly  two  weeks,  and  were 
then  taken  by  rail  to  New  York  city.  After  leaving  the 
cars,  we  were  marched  to  the  Battery,  put  in  boats  and 
taken  to  Governor's  Island.  This  place  was  used  as  a 


32  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

general  receiving  depot,  recruits  being  sent  here  from 
the  different  rendezvous  in  the  country,  drilled,  and  sent 
away  to  fill  the  depleted  regiment  of  the  line  stationed 
on  the  frontier. 

Upon  landing  at  the  island,  we  were  marched  to  the 
surgeon,  and  again  inspected,  and  then  allotted  to  our 
respective  quarters,  where  we  were  taken  charge  of  by  a 
sergeant,  who  appeared  to  me  to  be  the  queerest  speci- 
men of  a  soldier  I  had  ever  seen.  He  was  a  red-headed, 
round-shouldered,  bow-legged  Irishman,  who,  to  add  to 
his  deformities,  was  addicted  to  strong  drink,  which  was 
the  cause  of  much  trouble  between  him  and  his  wife, 
who  lived  on  the  island,  and  generally  resulted  in  her 
getting  a  sound  thrashing.  He  beat  her  so  severely  one 
night  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  confine  him,  and  he 
was  afterwards  tried  by  court-martial  and  reduced  to  the 
ranks,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  It  was  very  amus- 
ing the  first  morning  he  took  us  out  to  drill,  especially  to 
Jim  and  me,  who  had  so  recently  been  drilled  by  as  fine- 
looking  men  and  as  good  drill-masters  as  could  be  found. 
He  would  begin  in  this  way :  "  Now  min,  I  want  yez  tu 
du  jist  as  I  tell  yez.  I  want  yez  tu  shtand  up  shtrate, 
loike  this  "  (standing  up  as  erect  as  his  deformity  would 
allow).  "Don't  look  tu  the  right  or  the  left  til  I  tell 
yez.  Now,  whin  I  says  rite  fa-ace,  all  of  yez  turn  tu  the 
rite ;  now  whin  I  says  ma-arch,  you  all  shtep  off  loike 
this."  He  then  paraded  himself  in  front  of  us,  and,  with 
those  ill-shaped  legs,  commenced  marching.  It  would 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  33 


have  been  a  very  painful  operation  to  us  to  have  twisted 
our  legs  in  that  shape.  It  created  quite  a"  laugh  all 
through  the  squad,  an  indulgence  we  should  not  have 
taken  had  he  been  facing  us.  "  Thar,  du  yez  mind  that  ? 
Du  jist  loike  that ;  now,  rite  fa-ace."  We  promptly  ex- 
ecuted the  order.  "  Forward,  ma-arch."  He  then  com- 
menced shouting  the  time  for  us  in  this  style  :  "  Right, 
left,  keep  yer  shtep,  hep,  hep,  blast  yer  eyes,  yez  out  of 
shtep,  right,  left,"  etc.  We  were  thus  tortured  four  hours 
each  day,  two  in  the  morning,  and  two  in  the  afternoon. 
I  never  understood  how  such  a  creature  held  so  promi- 
nent a  position,  for  the  sergeants  generally  were  intelli- 
gent, bright-looking  men. 

The  food  for  recruits  was  indeed  very  poor,  so  bad  that 
it  caused  much  suffering.  A  cup  of  coffee,  without  milk, 
and  very  little  sugar,  a  piece  of  cold  boiled  fat  porky 
and  a  slice  of  bread  constituted  the  breakfast ;  a  bowl  of 
bean  soup  and  a  slice  of  bread  made  the  dinner.  Why 
it  was  called  bean  soup  I  could  not  understand,  for  I 
never  heard  of  one  being  found  in  it.  On  one  occasion 
a  recruit  spilt  his  soup  on  the  table,  and  on  being  cen- 
sured, gave  as  a  reason  that  he  had  been  diving  in  his 
bowl  in  search  of  a  bean.  He  was  walked  off  to  the 
guard-house  for  insolence.  On  Sunday  we  had  beef 
soup,  and  a  few  vegetables  for  dinner;  breakfast  and 
supper  were  the  same  as  other  days. 

Much  sickness  prevailed  among  the  recruits,  occa- 
sioned by  eating  decayed  fruit  which  had  washed  ashore, 


34  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

such  as  oranges  and  apples,  that  had  been  thrown  into 
the  river  from  the  stores  in  the  city.  The  poor  fel- 
lows, being  so  hungry,  and  most  of  them  without  money, 
were  glad  to  eat  anything. 

Jim  and  I  remained  with  the  recruits  only  two  or  three 
days.  He,  being  a  good  musician,  was  taken  into  the 
depot  band,  and  I  was  transferred  to  the  permanent  com- 
pany, a  position  which,  for  morality,  was  not  above  re- 
proach. This  company  was  stationed  here  to  take  charge 
of  the  island  and  drill  the  recruits.  We  had  good  quar- 
ters and  excellent  rations.  I  had  been  here  but  a  short 
time  when  I  was  promoted  to  corporal.  The  rank  was 
not  very  exalted,  but  to  me  it  seemed  quite  a  position. 
My  duties  were  to  drill  recruits,  and  occasionally  row  in 
the  barge  that  carried  the  mail  from  the  island  to  New 
York ;  for  the  latter  service  we  received  extra  pay. 

On  these  trips  were  brought  many  things  from  the  city, 
which  were  disposed  of  to  those  recruits  who  had  a  few 
dollars  left,  from  which  enormous  profits  were  realized. 
Liquor  was  the  principal  article  of  trade.  To  such  an 
extent  was  this  traffic  carried  on  that  it  was  the  cause  of 
much  trouble  among  the  men,  by  their  getting  drunk,  and 
the  officers  endeavored  to  stop  it.  After  each  trip  an 
examination  of  the  crew  was  made  by  a  sergeant,  but 
not  wishing  to  be  deprived  of  so  profitable  a  trade,  they 
devised  a  very  ingenious  method  to  deceive  him,  by  filling 
small  bladders  with  the  liquor  and  placing  them  in  their 
boot-legs.  Sometimes  the  river  would  be  rather  rough, 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  35 


and  by  the  extra  exertions  the  bladders  would  burst,  but 
the  men  had  a  faculty  of  always  making  the  best  of  such 
misfortunes.  On  reaching  their  quarters  they  emptied 
their  boots  and  wrung  their  stockings,  and,  putting  the 
liquor  into  bottles,  sold  it  for  a  dollar  a  bottle.  Doubt- 
less they  felt  they  had  benefited  their  suffering  comrades, 
and  also  received  good  profits  from  their  extra  exertions. 
Another  method  ftiey  had  of  making  money,  with  an 
eye,  also,  to  the  morals  of  those  unfortunate,  weak  young 
men,  was  by  selling  the  same  bottle  many  times.  The 
recruits  were  not  allowed  in  our  quarters,  still  they  fre- 
quently stole  in  after  dark.  One  of  the  men  would  bor- 
row a  sergeant's  coat,  and  station  himself  on  the  outside 
of  the-  building.  When  the  recruit  came  out,  he  was  ar- 
rested by  the  bogus  sergeant,  the  bottle  taken  from  him, 
and  he  was  dragged  off  in  the  direction  of  the  guard-house ; 
but  he  was  always  released  before  reaching  there,  with  a 
warning  that  if  caught  in  such  rascally  business  again  he 
would  be  severely  punished.  The  profits  from  this  busi- 
ness came  under  the  head  of  perquisites,  and  it  was 
extensively  carried  on  by  all  parties. 


36  REMINISCENCES  OF  A   VETERAN. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

BOUT  once  a  month  we  had  a  very  unpleas- 
ant ceremony  to  witness,  now,  happily, 
abolished,  that  of  flogging  men.  All  de- 
serters from  the  different  rendezvous,  when 
taken,  were  sent  here  for  punishment,  some- 
times four  or  five  being  flogged  in  one  morning.  Our 
company  was  marched  to  the  moat  that  surrounded 
the  fort,  and  formed  into  a  half-circle.  The  prisoners 
in  turn,  were  tied  to  a  cannon,  and  usually  received 
fifty  lashes  each,  on  the  bare  back.  They  were  then  taken 
to  the  guard-house,  and  a  letter  D,  meaning  deserter,  was 
tattooed  on  the  hip,  and  a  few  days  after  were  drummed 
around  the  garrison  to  the  tune  of  the  "  Rogue's  March," 
then  taken  to  New  York  and  turned  adrift. 

The  latter  part  of  the  winter  I  was  appointed  sergeant. 
I  was  given  charge  of  a  company  of  recruits,  allowed  citi- 
zen's clothing,  and  could  go  to  New  York  at  any  time. 
Without  egotism,  I  think  I  made  a  better  appearance  in 
front  of  my  company  than  did  the  Hibernian  sergeant, 
though  some  no  doubt  indulged  in  a  few  criticisms  at  my 
expense. 

Jim  did  not  seem  to  prosper  at  all.     Poor  fellow,  he 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  37 


was  doomed  to  misfortune.  All  his  well-laid  plans  for  the 
future  were  dashed  to  pieces  very  suddenly.  On  joining 
the  band  he  found  an  old  comrade  from  our  regiment  of 
the  British  army,  who  informed  him  of  the  death  of  his 
brother,  and  that  he  was  buried  in  the  little  cemetery  at 
the  back  of  the  garrison.  The  day  we  visited  the  grave 
is  still  fresh  in  my  memory.  We  found  a  beautiful  tomb- 
stone, placed  there  by  the  band  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 
ber, and  the  inscription  upon  it  spoke  of  him  as  a  young 
man  of  irreproachable  character.  Jim  sat  on  the  grave 
and  wept  bitterly.  He  was  an  only  brother,  and  to  think 
that  after  traveling  so  far,  and  suffering  so  much,  he 
should  find  him  dead  ! 

I  do  not  remember  of  ever  seeing  him  smile  after  that, 
and  his  whole  character  underwent  a  complete  change. 
He  was  sick  and  very  low-spirited  all  winter,  and  he 
seemed  to  be  wasting  away.  Several  times  I  went  with 
him  to  New  York,  but  he  never  appeared  to  enjoy  any 
amusement,  and  I  began  to  think  he  would  soon  join  his 
brother.  He  finally  decided  that  he  would  go  back  to 
England,  and  nothing  could  change  his  mind.  I  opposed 
it  at  first,  but  at  last  concluded  that  it  would  be  for  the 
best,  for  I  felt  certain  that  if  he  remained  here  he  would 
surely  die. 

About  the  first  of  March  we  went  to  the  city  and  he 
engaged  passage  to  England ;  we  then  returned  to  the 
island  and  made  preparations  for  his  voyage.  I  gave  him 
a  portion  of  my  clothing,  and  what  money  I  had,  and 


38  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

accompanied  him  to  the  wharf.  I  watched  the  vessel  as 
it  glided  away,  and  the  last  I  saw  of  poor  Jim,  he  was 
weeping,  while  I  was  swallowing  huge  lumps  that  would, 
in  spite  of  myself,  come  into  my  throat. 

I  realized  that  I  was  alone  in  a  foreign  country,  with- 
out one  friend  from  whom  I  could  claim  the  right  of  as- 
sistance in  case  of  need.  I  was  reminded  of  my  duty 
by  an  aged  woman,  who  evidently  had  been  watching  us, 
for  she  inquired  of  me  whether  that  was  my  brother, 
where  was  he  going,  and  if  I  did  not  want  to  buy  some 
nice  apples.  To  the  latter  question  I  answered  that 
I  did  not  care  to  eat  apples  just  then. 

On  my  return  to  the  island  many  inquiries  were  made 
about  Jim,  to  all  of  which  I  pleaded  ignorance.  My 
duties  soon  overcame  all  gloomy  feelings,  and  in  a  short 
time  I  was  as  jovial  as  ever.  I  received  one  letter  from 
Jim,  stating  that  he  had  joined  his  old  regiment,  and  had 
only  received  slight  punishment.  That  was  all  I  ever 
heard  from  him. 

At  a  session  of  Congress  in  1854,  an  act  was  passed 
whereby  the  army  was  to  be  increased  by  the  addition  of 
four  regiments,  and  an  order  was  sent  to  the  commander 
at  Governor's  Island  to  furnish  men  for  the  recruiting 
service.  Having  been  there  about  seven  months,  I  felt  a 
desire  to  see  more  of  the  country,  and  sent  in  an  applica- 
tion for  that  service,  which  was  accepted,  and  I  received 
orders  to  report  myself  immediately  to  Lieutenant  Dudley, 
of  the  Tenth  Infantry,  at  Springfield,  Mass.  I  started  at 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  39 


once,  and,  upon  my  arrival  there,  found  a  good-looking 
and,  apparently,  smart  officer ;  but  after  a  -short  con- 
versation with  him,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  was 
not  a  very  brilliant  military  genius ;  in  fact,  he  was  only 
a  merchant  tailor,  just  out  of  the  store.  He  had  received 
his  appointment  from  Franklin  Pierce,  then  president  of 
the  United  States.  At  his  request,  I  informed  him  of  the 
duties  that  devolved  upon  a  first  lieutenant,  drilled  the 
recruits  as  fast  as  they  were  enlisted,  and  taught  them  to 
salute  him  when  passing  in  the  street.  The  latter  evolu- 
tion he  greatly  admired,  and  would  take  particular  pains 
to  pass  and  repass  the  men  for  the  sake  of  being  so 
recognized. 

After  a  squad  of  about  a  dozen  men  was  enlisted, 
they  were  taken  to  Carlisle  Barracks,  Pa.,  where  the  regi- 
ment was  organizing.  I  met  with  many  adventures 
on  these  journeys;  sometimes  a  man  would  run  away, 
and  while  after  him  some  of  the  others  would  be  missing ; 
then,  again,  in  spite  of  my  vigilance,  one  would  become 
intoxicated  and  commence  fighting;  in  such  cases  I  had 
to  call  the  police  to  my  assistance.  On  one  occasion, 
while  passing  through  New  York  city,  the  provisions, 
which  were  being  carried  in  a  box  by  the  men,  were 
dropped  and  the  contents  strewn  about ;  this  caused  quite 
a  crowd,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  I  got  my  men  safely 
away.  In  every  case  I  found  the  sympathy  of  the  citi- 
zens with  the  recruits.  In  all  these  trials,  however,  I 
succeeded  in  every  instance  in  getting  my  men  to  head- 


40  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


quarters.  We  had  to  take  many  scoldings  from  mothers 
and  sisters  for  enlisting  their  sons  and  brothers,  but  we 
always  quieted  them  by  promising  speedy  promotion. 

I  spent  a  very  pleasant  summer  here,  and  in  the  fall 
joined  the  regiment  at  Carlisle.  It  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  Alexander,  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  F.  Smith, 
and  Major  Canby.  Colonel  Alexander  was  retired  just 
previous  to  the  war ;  Smith  was  appointed  major-general, 
and  distinguished  himself  at  the  storming  of  Fort  Don- 
aldson, after  which  he  died  of  sickness ;  and  Canby  was 
also  appointed  major-general,  passed  safely  through  the 
war,  and  was  killed  at  the  lava  beds  by  the  Modoc  In- 
dians. This  officer  was  one  of  the  best  and  kindest  of 
men.  During  the  many  trials  we  passed  through  in  the 
five  years  I  was  under  him,  wherever  there  was  any  suf- 
fering, either  in  hospital  or  out,  he,  with  his  estimable 
wife,  was  always  there.  I  remember  that  on  one  occasion 
while  marching  through  snow,  fording  rivers,  and  for 
weeks  with  scarcely  a  dry  thread  upon  us,  he  gave  a  small 
stove,  that  was  needed  for  his  wife's  comfort,  to  the  hos- 
pital. When  the  rivers  became  so  cold  that  we  dreaded 
to  wade  through,  he  would  dismount  and  walk,  and  forbid 
any  of  the  officers  to  ride.  The  men,  seeing  this,  would 
plunge  in  bravely.  It  was  characteristic  of  this  gallant 
soldier  not  to  require  of  others  what  he  was  unwilling  to 
do  himself,  and  it  was  a  sad  thing  to  have  so  valuable  a 
life  destroyed  by  those  treacherous  Modocs. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


41 


CHAPTER  VII. 

T  was  a  great  surprise  to  me  on  joining  the 
regiment  to  find  that  I  had  been  transferred 
from  Company  E,  the  one  in  which  I 
had  enlisted,  to  Company  I.  It  seemed 
like  turning  one  out  of  his  old  home,  for 
the  soldier  to  be  thus  changed  from  one  company  to 
another,  and  all  the  habits  and  associations  rudely  broken 
up.  To  such  an  apparently  unjust  proceeding  I  stoutly 
protested,  but  it  was  of  no  avail,  so  I  resigned  my  po- 
sition as  sergeant  and  took  the  bugle,  that  being  a  rifle 
regiment.  In  a  short  time  my  sorrow  for  having  been 
transferred  was  changed  to  gladness ;  for  I  found  Com- 
pany I  a  first-class  body  of  men,  being  mostly  from  New 
Hampshire.  The  captain,  Jesse  A.  Gove  of  Concord, 
was  a  brilliant  officer,  and  a  perfect  gentleman.  He  was 
liked  by  his  company,  and  respected  by  the  whole  regi- 
ment. He  was  a  good  disciplinarian,  though  he  never 
lost  sight  of  the  idea  that  an  enlisted  man  was  a  fellow- 
being,  which  could  not  be  said  of  most  of  the  Southern 
officers,  who  looked  upon  the  men  and  treated  them  much 
as  they  did  their  slaves  upon  the  plantations  which  some 
of  them  had  so  recently  left.  His  wife,  one  of  Concord's 


42  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

fair  daughters,  accompanied  her  husband  in  all  his  early 
campaigns,  and  proved  herself  in  this,  as  in  all  other 
things,  the  captain's  brave  and  noble  helpmeet.  At  Fort 
Ridgely,  Minn.,  a  child  was  born  to  them,  and  thus  were 
we  furnished  with  a  true  "Daughter  of  the  Regiment." 
She  was  named  Jessie  Ridgely  Gove,  and  was  with  us 
in  the  Utah  expedition  against  the  Mormons.  She  'is 
now  the  wife  of  Hon.  John  H. 
Pearson  of  Concord,  N.  H. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Rebellion  Captain  Gove  was  ap- 
pointed colonel  of  the  Twenty- 
Second  Massachusetts  Volun- 
teers, Vice-president  Wilson's 
regiment,  in  which  he  distin- 
guished himself  as  a  brave  offi- 
cer. He  was  killed  at  the  head 
of  his  regiment  while  heroically 
leading  his  men  into  the  very 
capt.  Jesse  A.  Gove.  thickest  of  the  fight  at  the  battle 

of  Gaines  Mills.  Thus  early  was  cut  off  the  life  of  this 
brave  soldier,  in  the  very  prime  of  his  usefulness,  standing 
high  up  and  reaching  for  the  topmost  round  on  the  lad- 
der of  fame. 

A  large  portrait  of  him  now  hangs  in  the  rotunda  of 
the  capitol  in  Concord. 

Two  sergeants  of  the  company  were  residents  of  Man- 
chester, and  were  officers  in  the  same  regiment  with  me  in 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  43 


the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  Adjutant  Alvan  H.  Libby  and 
Captain  William  H.  Maxwell.  Graduating  from  and 
representing  the  old  Tenth  regulars,  these  two  men, 
comrades  in  arms,  were  of  true  soldierly  character,  ac- 
quirements, and  bravery,  yet  their  experience  and  ability 
as  veterans  did  not  count  for  much  in  the  volunteer  service. 
While  beardless  youths,  with  no  military  record  or  know- 
ledge, even  of  the  commonest  forms  of  the  manual  of 
arms,  were,  through  high  connection  and  influence,  given 
the  best  positions  in  the  regiment,  these  old  soldiers,  the 
equals,  if  not  the  superiors,  of  its  commanding  officers, 
were  enlisted  as  privates,  and  only  received  the  rank  of 
lieutenants. 

At  the  storming  of  Fort  Wagner,  S.  C.,  while  carrying 
orders  through  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  from  General 
Strong  to  the  gallant  Colonel  Putnam,  of  the  Seventh 
New  Hampshire,  who  was  killed  in  that  charge,  poor 
Libby  offered  up  his  life. 

It  is  a  custom,  and  rightly  so,  when  a  patriot  is 
killed  in  battle,  to  speak  only  of  his  good  qualities,  feel- 
ing that  the  sacrifice  of  his  life  will,  like  the  blessed 
mantle  of  charity,  hide  a  multitude  of  sins.  I  know  that 
in  the  case  of  Adjutant  Libby  I  speak  the  universal  sen- 
timent of  his  comrades  when  I  say  his  faults  leaned  to 
virtue's  side ;  and  this  tribute  to  his  memory  I  put  on 
record,  as  his  friend  and  old  comrade,  that  among 
the  thousands  who  laid  down  their  lives  for  our  com- 
mon country,  no  truer,  braver  patriot  than  he  ever  went 


44 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


out  from  a  New  Hampshire  home  to  perish  on  the 
battle-field. 

My  duties   as   bugler  were   very  light ;    in   fact,  I  had 

scarcely  anything  to  do.     I  used  daily  to  take  some  of 

the  youngest  recruits  into  the  woods  at  the  back  of  the 

i^^^^    garrison  and  teach  them 

Jr        ji^*%feMtt  the  bu£le  calls>  after 

Jfil    BlS  which  I  traveled  around 

among  the  farmers,  mak- 
ing friendly  calls,  and  test- 
ing their  fruit,  of  which 
there  was  a  great  abund- 
ance. This  sunshine  did 
not  long  continue;  a  cloud 
arose  which  spoiled  all 
my  pleasure  and  resulted 
in  my  giving  up  the  bugle. 
A  deserter  having  been 
arrested,  was  sentenced 
Aivan  H.  Libby.  ^y  court  -  martial  to  re- 

ceive fifty  lashes  on  the  bare  back.  The  day  of  the  pun- 
ishment dawned  bright,  and  at  9  a.  m.  the  victim  was 
marched  from  the  guard-house  to  a  square  that  had  been 
formed  by  the  regiment,  in  which  a  piece  of  cannon  had 
been  hauled.  I  was  ordered  by  the  quartermaster  to  take 
a  rope  and  rawhide  and  proceed  to  the  square  where 
the  flogging  was  to  be  executed.  After  reading  the  sen- 
tence, the  man  was  told  to  remove  his  shirt,  after  which 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  45 


the  officer  of  the  day  ordered  me  to  tie  him  to  the  wheel 
of  the  cannon.  It  was  quite  an  undertaking,  and  I  do- 
not  know  to  this  day  how  it  was  done.  I  distinctly 
remember  the  time  and  trouble  it  caused  me  to  release 
him,  owing  to  the  many  knots  in  the  rope.  I  was  afraid 
the  poor  fellow  would  faint  before  I  could  get  him  re- 
leased. When  I  was  ordered  by  the  officer  to  take  the 
rawhide  and  flog  the  man,  I  was  dumfounded,  and  did 
not  wish  to  do  it,  but  was  told  that  I  must,  and  to  lay  it 
on  well,  or  he  would  have  me  court-martialed  for  dis- 
obedience of  orders,  so  I  had  no  alternative  but  to  exe- 
cute the  order.  He  instructed  me  to  strike  the  man  at 
each  count,  until  he  had  received  fifty  lashes.  He  began 
by  saying  "  one,"  in  a  loud  tone,  and  at  that  I  raised  the 
rawhide  and  commenced  the  brutal  work;  but  instead  of 
following  him,  he  had  to  follow  me,  and  very  quickly,  too, 
for  I  seemed  to  lose  all  presence  of  mind,  and  knew 
nothing  and  saw  nothing  until  he  seized  me  by  the  arm 
as  I  was  about  giving  the  man  one  blow  more  than  his 
sentence  demanded.  Throughout  this  punishment  my 
sufferings,  mentally,  were  equal  to  those  of  the  culprit.  It 
was  a  great  shock  to  me,  and  I  felt  both  ashamed,  dis- 
gusted, and  sad  at  the  spectacle  before  me.  He  was 
taken  to  the  guard-house,  and  a  few  days  after  drummed 
around  the  garrison,  with  bayonets  at  a  charge  and  the 
"  Rogue's  March  "  being  played,  and  upon  arriving  at  the 
gate  was,  without  ceremony,  kicked  out.  Such  discipline 
could  not  possibly  have  otherwise  than  a  bad  effect ;  and, 


46 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


in    my  opinion,  all  punishment   in   or  out   of    the   army 
should  be  reformatory  in  its  nature. 

After  this  I  felt  somewhat  afraid  to  go  to  the  city,  for 
fear  of  meeting  my  victim,  thinking,  of  course,  that 
should  he  see  me  he  might  avenge  himself  in  some  man- 
ner. I  was  agreeably  surprised  a  few  days  after,  when 


William    H     Maxwell. 


passing  along  the  street,  to  meet  him  and  have  him 
extend  his  hand  in  the  most  friendly  manner,  and  insist 
upon  my  drinking  with  him.  He  said  I  did  it  in  good 
shape  (meaning  the  flogging),  getting  through  with  it  so 
quickly.  I  did  not  question  his  opinion,  although  I  am 
sure  my  actions  must  have  had  a  guilty  appearance, 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  47 


for  I  never  felt  so  mean  in  the  presence  of  any  one 
before. 

A  band  master  arrived  about  this  time,  bringing  instru- 
ments and  music,  and  I  was  one  of  the  number  selected 
for  that  body.  I  was  well  pleased  at  such  an  opportu- 
nity, being  very  much  disgusted  with  some  of  the  duties 
of  a  bugler. 

We  had  many  musicians  in  the  regiment,  mostly  Ger- 
mans, so  that  in  a  few  days  we  had  a  tolerably  good 
band.  The  band  master,  sergeant,  and  corporal  were 
Englishmen,  as  was  also  the  quartermaster-sergeant,  so 
that  I  was  not  sorry  for  the  change  I  had  made. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

N  October  we  were  ordered  to  Fort  Snelling, 
Minn.  Now  commenced  a  very  unpleas- 
ant part  of  a  soldier's  life,  that  of  packing 
up  for  a  start.  Having  lived  here  for  sev- 
eral months  most  of  the  men  had  accumu- 
lated a  great  many  things,  in  the  shape  of  clothes,  books, 
fancy  articles,  etc.,  and  being  allowed  only  to  carry  so 
many  pounds,  the  weight  of  a  full  kit,  many  articles  had 
to  be  cast  aside.  It  was  quite  a  task  to  determine 
which  to  take  or  which  to  leave ;  and  after  repeatedly 
going  over  them  we  would  be  obliged  to  cast  most  of 
them  away,  taking  only  about  the  government  allowance. 
A  soldier's  love  is  generally  not  of  a  very  ardent  na- 
ture towards  any  object ;  he  is  driven  around  from  place 
to  place  ;  one  day  he  has  a  comrade  or  friend,  from  whom 
he  is  the  next  day  separated,  and  another  friendship  is 
formed,  and  thus  it  continues  during  his  whole  military 
career.  Such  is  the  case  particularly  with  soldiers  of 
the  regular  army. 

Colonel  Alexander  now  took  command,  and  we  at  once 
started  for  Minnesota,  crossing  the  Alleghanies  and  pass- 
ing through  Chicago,  Indianapolis,  and  Galena,  thence 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  49 

taking  steamboats  up  the  Mississippi  river.  A  portion 
of  the  regiment  was  left  at  Fort  Crawford,  Wis.,  under 
Lieut.-Col.  C.  F.  Smith,  while  the  headquarters  with  the 
remainder  of  the  regiment  went  to  Fort  Snelling,  which 
is  located  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi  river,  be- 
tween Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  those  places  at  that  time 
being  very  small,  the  population  of  the  former  about 
eight  hundred,  while  the  latter  contained  about  twenty- 
five  hundred.  We  disembarked  at  the  fort,  finding  a  bat- 
tery stationed  there,  under  the  command  of  Major  T.  W. 
Sherman.  This  fort  was  built  for  four  companies,  and 
by  putting  in  five,  it  necessarily  crowded  the  men.  After 
the  companies  had  been  allotted  to  their  respective  quar- 
ters, it  was  found  that  no  place  had  been  reserved  for 
the  band,  so  a  farm-house,  about  half  a  mile  from  the 
garrison,  was  procured.  This  location  was  delightful, 
situated  on  a  bluff,  at  the  foot  of  which  was  a  beautiful 
lake,  whose  waters  abounded  with  ducks  and  fish.  We 
had  canoes  and  guns,  and  most  of  our  living  came  from 
this  lake.  We  were  there  about  a  year,  and  saved  from 
government  rations  about  one  hundred  dollars.  The 
pike  in  the  lakes  were  very  large,  and  it  was  a  common 
occurrence  to  catch  them  weighing  from  six  to  eight 
pounds,  and  catfish  of  enormous  size  from  the  river. 
The  ducks  and  fish  of  these  waters  at  this  period  had 
been  disturbed  only  by  the  arrows  and  spears  of  the 
Indians,  and  they  afforded  us  not  only  pleasure  but  profit. 
We  now  had  a  well  organized  band,  and  played  for 


50  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


concerts,  dances,  and  other  entertainments  at  St.  Paul, 
St.  Anthony  (now  Minneapolis),  and  other  settlements. 

Minneapolis,  though  small,  was  just  waking  up  to  the 
importance  of  its  facilities  for  becoming  a  city,  and  in- 
creasing its  wealth  and  population.  The  first  effort  of 
its  people  towards  such  improvement  was  by  organizing 
a  hook  and  ladder  company.  The  lady  residents  there 
favored  it,  and  to  testify  their  appreciation  of  the  idea, 
prepared  a  beautiful  banner  for  the  company.  On  the 
evening  of  the  presentation  an  entertainment  was  held 
in  the  town  hall,  our  band  being  engaged  for  the  occasion. 
The  exercises  opened  with  a  selection  by  the  band,  after 
which,  in  a  pretty  little  speech,  the  banner  was  presented 
by  one  of  the  young  ladies.  It  was  accepted,  in  behalf 
of  the  company,  by  a  young  man,  who  attempted  a 
response,  but  signally  failed,  and  after  repeatedly  trying, 
the  speech  was  finally  read  from  manuscript,  the  band 
rendering  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner "  while  the  orator 
was  engaged  in  searching  for  his  notes.  I  mention  this 
little  incident  as  showing  the  rapid  strides  that  have  been 
made  in  that  city  in  so  short  a  time,  comparatively. 

The  winters  were  quite  severe,  the  thermometer  fre- 
quently falling  to  forty-five  degrees  below  zero.  Some 
of  the  men,  not  being  accustomed  to  such  a  climate,  and 
carelessly  exposing  themselves  after  dark,  were  frozen  to 
death.  When  found  they  invariably  had  whiskey  about 
them. 

On  one  occasion   five   of    us  of  the  band  had  rather 


REMINISCENCES    OF  A    VETERAN.  51 


a  narrow  escape.  We  obtained  a  pass  in  the  early  part 
of  the  winter  to  visit  St.  Paul.  Directly  opposite  the 
fort  was  a  rope  ferry,  which  was  used  in  going  there,  but 
as  the  ice  was  running  so  bad  that  we  could  not  cross, 
we  walked  down  on  the  east  side  and  crossed  over  at 
the  city.  Shortly  after  our  arrival  it  commenced  to  snow, 
but  we  gave  no  heed  to  this,  so  intent  were  we  on  mak- 
ing our  purchases  and  seeing  the  sights  of  the  town. 
Thus  the  day  wore  rapidly  away,  and  the  storm  settled 
down  upon  us  before  we  were  ready  to  start  for  home. 

Upon  arriving  at  the  river,  we  found,  to  our  dismay, 
that  our  boatman,  tired  of  waiting,  had  crossed  and  gone 
home  an  hour  before  ;  and,  as  no  other  boat  was  to  be 
had,  we  were  obliged  to  shoulder  our  traps  and  march 
to  the  ferry  up  the  river,  where  we  doubted  not  we  would 
be  able  to  cross  to  the  fort.  After  traveling  the  weary 
distance  between  St.  Paul  and  the  ferry,  about  five  miles, 
imagine  our  feelings  on  descending  the  steep  bank  of  the 
river,  to  the  ferry  house,  to  find  the  boat  fast  in  the  ice  in 
the  middle  of  the  river,  and  the  boatmen  on  it.  There 
were  slight  prospects  of  its  getting  ashore  very  soon,  and 
the  unkind  mistress  of  the  ferry  refused  to  admit  us  into 
the  house  to  warm  ourselves.  Just  then  some  of  us  in- 
dulged in  expressions  more  forcible  than  polite,  and  not 
at  all  complimentary  to  the  woman  at  the  ferry  house. 

As  we  stamped  our  feet  in  the  fast  increasing  snow, 
and  endeavored  to  rub  a  little  warmth  into  our  partially 
benumbed  hands,  it  occurred  to  us  that  bestowing  curses 


52  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

on  that  woman  would  not  get  us  out  of  our  dilemma, 
and  that  the  only  course  to  pursue  was  to  cross  the  sus- 
pension bridge  at  St.  Anthony,  which  was  distant  about 
seven  miles  up  the  river. 

It  seemed  rather  hard  to  have  to  travel  fourteen  miles 
to  get  to  the  fort,  when  across  the  river  we  could  see 
the  lights,  and  hear  the  tones  of  the  bugles  so  dis- 
tinctly, but  as  we  had  no  other  resource,  we  shouldered 
our  traps  and  again  started  through  the  woods  in  the 
blinding  storm. 

We  made  slow  progress,  but  still,  as  we  thought,  made 
some  headway  towards  the  bridge.  The  wind  blew  and 
it  grew  colder,  and  we  wearily  trudged  along,  till  at  last 
we  felt  we  could  go  no  farther  without  warmth  and  rest ; 
so  we  halted,  and,  gathering  dried  twigs  and  pulling  an 
old  stump  to  pieces,  at  last,  after  repeated  failures,  we 
succeeded  in  lighting  a  fire. 

With  the  generous  heat  and  needed  rest  came  renewed 
courage,  and  again  we  started  on  our  toilsome  way.  But 
still  no  St.  Anthony,  although  we  were  very  sure  we  must 
have  traveled  the  required  distance  to  reach  it.  Again 
had  hope  almost  deserted  us,  when  suddenly  we  came  to 
an  old  log  shanty.  Vigorously  we  pounded  upon  the 
door.  Soon  we  saw  through  the  crevices  the  gleam  of  a 
light,  and  heard  a  sonorous  "  Who 's  there  ?  " 

"Let  us  in,  for  Heaven's  sake  !  We  are  freezing!"  we 
shouted  in  despairing  tones. 

The  door  instantly  turned  on  its  hinges,  its  very  creak- 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  53 


ing  adding  to  the  hearty  welcome  of  the  burly  wood-chop- 
per who  stood  within. 

"  Ned,  hurry  up  there  and  pile  on  the  logs,"  he  cried 
to  another  huge  form  just  rising  from  a  rude  couch  in 
the  corner.  "Here's  some  soldier  boys  just  perishing 
with  the  cold." 

Soon  a  rousing  fire  was  blazing,  and  hot  coffee,  hastily 
prepared,  was  given  us,  when  we  told  our  story. 

"  Going  to  St.  Anthony,  was  you  ? "  said  our  host. 
"Well,  that's  rich;  you're  a  'tarnal  sight  nearer  St.  Paul 
than  you  are  St.  Anthony,  being  as  you  're  more  nor  five 
miles  from  either  on  'em,  though." 

And  so  it  was  ;  instead  of  following  the  river  direct  to 
St.  Anthony,  we  had,  on  losing  sight  of  the  Mississippi, 
struck  into  the  woods,  and  evidently  had  been  moving 
in  a  circle.  Had  we  not  providentially  stumbled  upon 
the  only  habitation  within  many  miles,  it  is  doubtful 
whether  any  of  us  would  have  lived  through  the  night. 

The  wood-choppers  gave  us  a  comfortable  "  shake- 
down "  on  the  floor,  where  we  spent  the  remainder  of 
the  night.  After  a  hearty  breakfast,  our  hosts  started  us 
towards  St.  Anthony,  with  a  hearty  "God-speed,"  where 
we  arrived  in  due  time  without  further  trouble,  and 
whence,  after  crossing  the  long  sought  for  suspension 
bridge,  we  took  our  homeward  march  to  the  fort,  which 
we  found  in  great  commotion,  occasioned  by  our  long 
absence.  The  colonel  had  despatched  parties  in  every 
direction  in  search  of  us,  which  had  returned  with  various 


54  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


dismal  stories — that  we  had  left  St.  Paul  after  dark  in 
the  storm ;  that  we  had  been  seen  by  the  woman  at  the 
ferry ;  and  then  all  traces  of  us  were  lost.  As  only  a 
few  days  before,  a  soldier  had  perished  in  a  storm  of  less 
violence,  it  was  but  natural  that  those  in  the  fort  should 
suppose  we  had  shared  the  same  fate.  As  soon  as  it 
became  known  that  we  had  returned,  the  entire  garrison 
came  out  to  greet  us.  The  colonel,  believing  that  we 
must  be  greatly  exhausted  after  so  hard  a  march,  came 
with  the  rest,  bringing  us  some  of  his  choice  brandy,  and 
kindly  inquiring  if  we  were  not  frozen  or  ill. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  55 


CHAPTER  IX. 

UR  military  duties  throughout  the  winter 
were  light,  owing  to  the  severity  of  the 
weather,  so  that  we  had  plenty  of  leisure, 
which  was  devoted  mostly  to  hunting. 
White  rabbits  were  quite  numerous,  and 
many  were  bagged ;  occasionally  we  got  a  goose  at  Minne- 
haha  Falls,  which  was  about  two  miles  distant.  One  of 
the  band  was  badly  frozen  while  hunting  there  one  day. 
He  had  shot  four  rabbits  and  a  large  goose,  when  one  of 
those  sudden  storms,  that  are  so  prevalent  in  Minnesota, 
overtook  him,  so  that  he  did  not  reach  home  until  after 
dark.  We  had  been  watching  and  going  out  as  far  as 
was  safe  for  several  hours,  when,  finally,  he  was  discov- 
ered staggering  along,  hanging  to  his  game,  which  he  said 
was  for  Christmas,  it  being  the  eve  of  that  festive  day. 
We  hurried  him  to  the  house,  found  him  badly  frozen, 
and  had  to  cut  his  boots  from  his  feet.  We  rubbed  his 
feet  with  snow,  and  applied  all  the  other  remedies  that 
are  used  upon  such  occasions,  but  he  did  not  walk  again 
until  summer,  and  was  ever  after  lame. 

About  the  first  of  June,  1856,  four  hundred  recruits 
joined  us  from  Governor's  Island,  and  among  them  were 


56  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

five  excellent  musicians,  who  were  a  great  addition  to 
the  band.  We  were  now  ordered  to  Fort  Ridgely, 
located  about  two  hundred  miles  up  the  Minnesota  river, 
near  the  Indian  agency.  It  was  necessary  that  troops 
be  kept  there,  as  at  this  agency  the  Sioux  Indians  received 
their  government  annuities. 

We  embarked  on  small  steamers  and  went  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  up  the  river,  to  Traverse  des 
Sioux ;  as  it  was  thought  the  water  would  be  too  shal- 
low to  proceed  any  further,  we  marched  the  rest  of  the 
distance,  taking  about  three  days.  It  being  our  first 
march,  it  was  considered  very  hard.  On  the  way  up,  on 
our  crowded  little  steamer,  the  quartermaster-sergeant's 
wife  gave  birth  to  a  son.  It  lived  but  a  few  hours,  and 
the  boat  was  stopped  to  bury  it.  Troops  of  the  regular 
army,  when  moving,  do  not  take  chaplains  along,  the 
latter  being  stationed  permanently  at  the  different  forts, 
so  the  funeral  ceremony  had  to  be  performed  by  some 
one  in  the  regiment.  Now,  being  a  near  friend  of  the 
father  of  the  child,  as  he  had  enlisted  at  our  rendezvous 
in  Springfield,  he  wished  me  to  attend  to  the  burying  of 
the  child.  Although  not  many  tears  were  dropped,  enough 
Mood  was  shed,  for  the  grave  was  beside  a  large  swamp, 
and  the  mosquitos  were  so  numerous  that  when  we 
reached  the  steamer's  deck  our  hands  and  faces  were 
covered  with  blood  from  their  bites. 

Upon  reaching  the  fort  we  found  a  portion  of  the 
Second  Infantry  stationed  there,  under  the  command  of 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  57 

Colonel    Abercrombie,  which   left  a  few  days   after   our 
arrival. 

The  Sioux  Indians,  chiefs  and  warriors,  anxious  to 
make  our  acquaintance,  assembled  in  great  numbers  and 
gave  a  war  dance.  It  was  very  amusing  to  most  of  us, 
as  we  had  never  seen  anything  of  the  kind  before,  and 
perhaps  a  brief  description  may  be  interesting  to  some  of 
my  readers.  They  formed  in  one  mass,  old  and  young, 
and  with  droning  voices,  in  unison,  with  orchestral  ac- 
companiment,— the  latter  consisting  of  two  small  kegs 
with  a  skin  drawn  tightly  over  one  end,  which  was  pounded 
with  sticks, — commenced  a  dance,  which  was  nothing 
more  than  clumsy  springs  about  two  inches  from  the 
ground.  At  intervals  of  a  few  minutes  they  would  stop 
and  give  a  war-whoop,  consisting  of  ear-splitting  shrieks 
and  yells ;  then  one  of  the  chiefs  would  step  into  the 
centre  and  deliver  a  short  oration,  which  must  have  been 
quite  interesting,  from  the  applause  given,  which,  by  the 
way,  was  not  by  clapping  of  hands  or  stamping  of  feet,  but 
by  grunts,  as  "  ough,  ough  ;  "  then  another  war-whoop, 
when  dancing  was  again  resumed.  As  it  was  so  warm, 
their  clothing  was  rather  scant,  consisting  only  of  breech- 
cloth,  and  their  faces  and  bodies  were  painted  in  every 
conceivable  color,  no  two  being  alike.  The  dance  con- 
tinued for  about  two  hours,  in  a  very  hot  sun,  causing  the 
perspiration  to  run  in  streams  down  their  bodies,  and 
badly  mixing  the  colors.  Such  a  looking  set  of  beings  it 
would  be  futile  to  attempt  to  describe. 


58  REMINISCENCES  OF  A   VETERAN. 

At  the  close  a  sumptuous  repast  was  partaken  of.  The 
colonel  gave  them  an  old  ox,  that  had  long  since  passed  its 
usefulness,  and  was  nearly  dead  with  age.  He  was  driven 
a  short  distance  from  the  garrison  and  killed.  They  then 
kindled  a  large  fire,  and,  cutting  the  carcass  up  into 
chunks,  threw  them  upon  the  embers,  leaving  them  there 
only  long  enough  to  singe  the  hair  and  scorch  the  meat, 
when  it  was  ravenously  devoured,  in  about  the  same  time 
and  manner  as  might  be  expected  from  a  pack  of  wolves. 
In  two  hours  from  the  time  of  receiving  it,  nothing  was 
left  of  the  ox  but  the  horns,  hoofs,  and  bones ;  they  had 
devoured  it  all,  without  either  bread  or  salt. 

Almost  any  day  some  of  them  might  be  seen  loitering 
about  the  cook-houses,  assisting  the  cooks,  not  by  directly 
working  for  them,  but  by  keeping  the  swill-tubs  empty. 
I  never  saw  an  Indian,  no  matter  how  much  he  had  eaten, 
who  could  not  always  eat  as  much  more  as  you  chose 
to  give  him.  It  has  been  said,  and  I  believe  with  much 
truth,  that  they  can  eat  enough  at  one  meal  to  last  them 
an  entire  week. 

The  Indians  have  a  great  many  holidays;  that  is,  the 
male  portion.  The  squaw's  only  holiday  or  place  of  rest 
is  the  grave,  of  which,  doubtless,  she  has  no  dread,  as 
her  creed  teaches  of  a  future  life,  though  not  of  a  future 
punishment ;  that  when  she  dies  she  is  transported  to  a 
fair  land  up  in  the  sky,  where  there  is  no  work,  no  sick- 
ness, no  pain,  but  an  endless  round  of  feasting  and 
merry-making.  Here  she  is  nothing  but  a  drudge  ;  every 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  59 


description  of  work,  both  indoors  and  out,  falls  to  her 
lot.  She  toils  incessantly,  preparing  all  the  food  for 
preservation  and  present  use,  taking  care  of  the  children, 
doing  bead  work  of  all  kinds,  on  moccasins,  belts,  and 
head-dress,  tanning,  fancy  painting  on  blankets  and  robes, 
preparing  killikinick  to  smoke,  hauling  wood  and  water, 
etc. ;  a  large  portion  of  this  work  is  done  with  a  pap- 
poose  on  her  back.  The  most  singular  part  of  all  this 
drudgery,  especially  the  finery,  is  that  none  of  it  is  for 
herself,  but  for  her  lord  and  master,  and  her  patience 
never  flags  in  striving  to  get  up  something  pretty  for 
him  on  his  return  from  the  hunt.  How  wonderfully  the 
Indian  woman  differs  from  the  white,  in  regard  to  dress ! 
Her  whole  thought  is  in  the  appearance  of  her  husband, 
while  with  her  pale-faced  sisters  the  idea  is  reversed. 


6o 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


CHAPTER  X. 

N  January,  1857,  I  obtained  a  furlough  of 
three  weeks,  to  visit  some  comrades  at  Fort 
Snelling,  traveling  the  entire  distance,  about 
two  hundred  miles,  in  a  sleigh.  Stopping 
one  night  in  the  woods,  at  a  house  kept  by 
a  half-breed,  I  was  amused,  though  part  of  the  time  some- 
what timorous  over  some  of  the  customs  of  its  occupants. 
After  supper,  consisting  of  wild  meat  and  corn  bread, 
we  were  visited  by  several  neighbors,  whose  morality  and 
decency  I  could  not  but  question.  These  were  some 
seven  or  eight  barbarous  and  ugly-looking  Sioux  Indians, 
whose  camp  was  but  a  short  distance  from  the  house. 
We  played  games  during  the  evening,  one  of  which  was 
a  general  favorite  with  them,  and  resembled  a  game 
which  we  call  "button."  We  all  sat  upon  the  ground, 
side  by  side,  in  a  circle,  with  hands  under  our  legs,  pass- 
ing a  small  rock  one  to  another,  while  one  stood  in  the 
centre,  watching  carefully  the  manoeuvring,  and  occasion- 
ally pouncing  upon  the  one  whom  he  thought  had  it.  If 
he  succeeded  in  securing  it,  the  victim  would  have  to  treat. 
For  a  time  it  was  quite  interesting,  but  at  last  one  was 
accused  of  cheating,  and  refused  to  pay  his  forfeit.  One 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  6 1 

. — : $_ 

word  brought  on  another,  until  they  all  got  to  fighting, 
drawing  knives  and  tomahawks,  and  swinging  them 
around  in  a  dangerous  manner.  Not  caring  to  take  a  hand 
in  so  savage  a  game  I  retreated  to  the  door  and  silently 
watched  the  row.  They  slashed  and  pounded  each  other 
until  apparantly  exhausted,  then  stopped,  lighted  their 
pipes  and  caroused  until  midnight.  The  half-breed's 
wife,  an  old  squaw,  her  daughter,  a  girl  about  eighteen, 
and  myself  appeared  to  be  the  only  ones  who  escaped 
without  more  or  less  injury. 

So  much  fun  in  one  night  was  rather  exhausting,  and 
I  requested  to  be  shown  to  my  sleeping  place,  which 
was  a  large  loft,  reached  by  a  ladder.  It  contained  nu- 
merous bunks,  which  were  occupied  by  us  all.  After 
disrobing,  I  discovered,  to  my  consternation,  that  there 
were  no  bed  clothes.  On  making  known  my  wants,  by 
various  signs,  the  squaw  removed  one  of  the  feather- 
beds,  and  rudely  pushing  me  down  upon  the  other,  re- 
placed over  me  the  one  she  had  taken  off.  I  thought  it 
a  novel  way  of  sleeping,  but  found  it  very  comfortable,  and 
slept  soundly  the  rest  of  the  night.  The  next  morning 
the  proprietor  attempted  an  apology  for  the  disgraceful 
conduct  of  his  patrons,  intimating  that  he  intended  to 
keep  a  respectable  house  at  all  times,  "but,"  said  he, 
"dem  infernal  Injuns  don't  never  behave  demselves."  I 
thought  that  in  some  parts  of  the  row  his  Indian  blood 
revealed  itself  quite  prominently,  and  not  in  actions  alone, 
as  his  face  and  hands  bore  traces  of  it.  The  entire 


62  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN, 

» 

family  were  quite  pressing  in  their  invitation  for  me  to 
stay  another  day,  and  particularly  requested  me  to  call 
on  my  way  back.  I  did  not  call. 

My  furlough  having  about  expired,  I  was  preparing 
to  leave,  when  a  terrific  storm  set  in,  lasting  several 
days,  so  that  it  was  considered  unsafe  for  me  to  attempt 
to  return,  and  I  was  obliged  to  get  my  furlough  extended 
by  Major  Canby,  who  was  in  command  of  the  fort. 

After  many  days  of  suffering,  both  from  cold  and 
hunger,  I  reached  home,  only  to  find  that  I  had  been  con- 
sidered a  deserter,  and  that  the  corporal  of  the  band  had 
taken  my  personal  property  and  divided  it  among  the 
members,  taking,  of  course,  a  good  share  himself.  The 
drummer  boy,  Micky  O'Brien,  exposed  the  trick,  by  re- 
porting it  to  the  band-master ;  he,  in  turn,  reported  it  to 
the  adjutant ;  the  result  was,  that  the  corporal  was  tried 
by  court  martial  and  reduced  to  the  ranks. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  63 


CHAPTER  XL 

HORRIBLE  massacre  was  perpetrated  by 
the  Indians  the  latter  part  of  the  winter, 
near  Spirit  Lake,  and  an  urgent  call  was 
made  to  proceed  after  them.  It  was  a 
small  band,  composed  of  outcasts  from 
several  tribes,  under  a  chief  named  Ingpanduta,  that 
committed  the  depredation.  Early  the  next  morning  the 
companies  started,  traveling  about  fifteen  miles.  On  the 
third  day  the  place  where  they  commenced  their  brutal 
slaughter  was  reached.  It  was  a  small  farm-house,  which 
appeared  to  have  been  inhabited  by  a  man,  his  wife,  and 
two  children,  who  were  lying  outside  the  door  dead  and 
scalped.  The  same  scene  was  witnessed  at  every  house, 
until  forty-five  victims  of  these  merciless  savages  were 
found.  At  one  house  a  poor,  unfortunate  man  was  dis- 
covered with  both  legs  gone,  which  had  been  frozen  and 
amputated  just  before  the  massacre ;  as  he  was  in  bed, 
the  Indians  had  overlooked  him,  and  when  found  he  was 
nearly  dead  from  starvation.  He  was  removed  and  ten- 
derly cared  for.  He  said  he  did  not  wish  to  live  any 
longer,  as  his  family  were  all  dead,  and  there  was  but  a 
remnant  of  himself  left. 


64  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

The  wretches  carried  away  two  young  married  women, 
after  killing  their  husbands.  One  of  these  they  butchered 
because  she  refused  to  comply  with  some  of  their  de- 
mands ;  the  other  one,  more  obedient,  trudged  along  un- 
der the  heavy  burdens  put  upon  her. 

Long  marches  were  made  through  the  snow,  in  the  hope 
of  overtaking  them  and  rescuing  her,  but  without  success. 
A  short  time  after  this,  the  Sioux  Indians,  under  their 
chief,  Little  Crow,  came  to  the  agency  for  their  money — 
which  was  paid  them  for  land  ceded  to  the  government — 
when  they  were  notified  that  no  money  would  be  paid 
until  they  had  delivered  up  the  woman  who  was  then 
held  a  prisoner  by  them.  They  manifested  great  surprise 
at  such  notice,  and  showed  signs  of  anger,  but  without 
avail.  Little  Crow  finally  concluded  that  the  sooner  our 
terms  were  complied  with,  the  quicker  he  and  his  tribe 
would  get  their  money.  Not  very  long  after  this  the 
poor  woman  was  brought  in,  and  it  was  grievous  to  see 
such  a  sad,  forlorn-looking  being.  She  was  sent  to  St. 
Paul,  and  we  never  heard  from  her  again. 

Quite  a  ludicrous,  and  to  some,  amusing,  affair  occur- 
red in  the  spring.  The  band-master  complained  to  the 
adjutant  of  not  being  able  to  get  sufficient  wood  chopped 
for  his  daily  use,  and  the  adjutant  instructed  him  to  have 
the  band  chop  it.  This  order  we  positively  refused  to 
obey,  knowing  it  to  be  contrary  to  the  regulations  of  the 
army,  upon  which  we  were  all  marched  to  the  guard- 
house. The  next  morning  we  were  released  and  ordered 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  65 


to  prepare  for  guard  mount,  which  we  were  pleased  to  do, 
thinking  we  had  got  off  very  easy;  but  great  was  our 
surprise,  when  the  guard  mount  was  through,  at  being 
marched  back  to  the  guard-house,  and  kept  there  until 
the  next  morning,  when  again  the  same  order  came ;  but 
it  was  our  turn  now,  and  we  were  prepared  for  it.  As 
we  started  down  the  line,  each  one  played  to  suit  him- 
self. Such  discords  were  never  heard  before,  and  our 
Indian  musicians  might  well  be  excused  if  they  did  man- 
ifest signs  of  jealousy.  The  officers  and  men  in  the 
garrison  were  convulsed  with  laughter,  while  the  adjutant 
and  band-master  were  pale  with  anger.  The  music  was 
stopped,  and  we  were  ordered  back  to  the  guard-house. 
Shortly  after  our  arrival  there,  we  were  visited  by  the 
colonel,  who  expressed  sorrow  at  seeing  the  band  con- 
fined in  such  a  place,  among  the  meanest  vagabonds  of 
the  regiment.  We  told  him  that  we  did  not  derive  any 
real  pleasure  at  being  there.  He  said  we  were  confined 
for  disobedience  of  orders ;  that  we  ought  to  have  obeyed 
the  order,  even  if  it  were  wrong,  and  then  reported  it  to 
him,  in  which  case  he  would  have  remedied  the  evil. 
After  a  long  lecture,  we  were  released,  promising,  of 
course,  better  behavior  in  the  future. 

We  were  called  upon  to  perform  a  very  sad  duty  here, 
that  of  attending  the  funeral  of  the  band-master's  wife, 
who  died  of  consumption.  She  was  a  kind,  generous, 
beautiful  woman,  and  was  held  in  great  esteem  by  all. 
The  band-master  was  from  a  Highland  regiment  of  the 


66  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

British  army,  and  had  brought  many  Scotch  airs  with 
him,  one  of  which  was  that  pretty  song,  "  Within  a  Mile 
of  EdinboroV  She  had  heard  it  so  many  times,  and 
liked  it  so  well,  that,  at  her  request,  it  was  played  at  the 
grave  by  the  band.  As  we  placed  the  remains  of  our 
dear  little  friend  in  the  grave,  on  that  wild,  open  prairie, 
far  away  from  her  New  England  home  and  the  friends 
there  she  loved  so  well,  it  brought  tears  to  the  eyes  of  many 
whose  hearts  had  been  hardened  by  misfortune,  and  this 
solemn  scene  brought  to  mind  trials  and  sorrows  which 
perhaps  had  been  the  cause  of  placing  them  in  the  army. 
The  approach  of  spring  was  hailed  with  joy.  The 
long  winter  months  were  drawing  to  a  close,  and  well 
might  we  rejoice,  for  our  fort  was  located  upon  the  open 
prairie,  so  that  when  the  winds  and  storms,  which  are  so 
prevalent  in  Minnesota,  came  we  received  the  full  force  of 
them.  In  some  of  them  several  of  our  men  lost  their 
lives,  while  many  had  narrow  escapes.  My  "bunkey" 
(bed-fellow),  Micky  O'Brien,  came  near  perishing  one 
night.  He  was  a  bright  little  drummer  boy,  only  thirteen 
years  of  age,  the  son  of  Irish  parents,  the  father  being- 
long  since  dead,  and  the  mother  perhaps  worse  than 
dead.  She  had  taken  no  care  of  her  boy,  but  had  left 
him  to  his  own  resources  for  a  living,  which  he  had  ob- 
tained in  one  way  and  another  in  the  streets  of  New 
York  previous  to  his  joining  the  army.  Like  most  of  his 
countrymen,  he  was  a  Catholic.  From  some  cause,  prob- 
ably neglect  in  his  tender  years,  he  was  subject,  at  times, 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  67 

to  frightful  convulsions  or  fits.  He  seemed  to  know  when 
they  were  coming,  which  was  usually  at  night/ and  would 
notify  me,  so  that  I  was  always  prepared  to  help  him. 
He  had  great  faith  in  holy  water  as  an  antidote  for  his 
affliction,  having  been  told  by  his  mother  to  use  it  at 
such  times,  as  it  would  protect  him  from  all  danger.  So 
far  from  any  church  or  priest,  I  had  no  consecrated 
water,  of  course,  so  I  used  the  pure  spring  water,  pouring 
it  from  my  canteen  into  the  wash-basin,  and  when  the 
dreaded  spasm  was  coming  on,  and  the  poor  boy  shouted 
"  Holy  water,  bunkey,"  I  would  sprinkle  him  with  it,  in 
sympathy  with  his  simple  faith,  although  he  was  always 
unconscious  at  the  time.  These  convulsions  came  often 
without  any  apparent  cause,  although  any  sudden  fright 
or  excitement  would  bring  them  on.  Sometimes  by  sit- 
ting up  awhile  they  would  pass  away.  One  stormy 
night,  he  notified  me  that  he  was  about  to  have  one,  so 
we  sat  up  and  made  all  preparations ;  but  after  talking 
awhile,  we  concluded  it  had  passed  by,  and  laid  down  and 
I  dropped  asleep.  I  suddenly  awoke  with  the  impression 
that  Micky  was  not  in  bed,  and  feeling  for  him,  I  dis- 
covered he  was  gone.  I  called,  but  receiving  no  answer, 
sprang  from  the  bunk  and  rushed  to  the  door.  As  I 
pulled  it  open,  the  wind  blew  with  such  force  as  to  nearly 
knock  me  down.  Blindly  staggering  out,  I  stumbled  upon 
the  poor  boy,  almost  buried  in  the  drifting  snow,  and 
apparently  lifeless.  As  quickly  as  possible  I  carried  him 
into  the  house,  and  placed  him  between  the  blankets, 


68  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

where,  by  rubbing  his  hands  and  feet,  I  soon  restored 
warmth  to  his  benumbed  system,  and  the  words  "  Holy 
water,  bunkey !  "  came  from  his  purple  lips.  Had  not 
the  snow  blown  upon  him  and  covered  him  so  quickly,  he 
would  doubtless  have  frozen,  for  the  cold  was  so  intense 
that  it  took  but  a  short  time  for  the  blood  to  congeal. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  69 


CHAPTER   XII. 

BOUT  the  first  of  May  orders  were  issued 
to  prepare  immediately  to  start  to  Fort 
Leavenworth,  Kansas,  to  join  an  expedition 
which  was  fitting  out  for  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  as  escort  to  Governor  Gumming,  who 
was  to  supersede  Gov.  Brigham  Young,  which  was  very 
much  in  opposition  to  the  latter  gentleman's  wishes,  who 
did  not  propose  to  relinquish  without  a  struggle. 

We  embarked  at  the  fort  on  board  of  a  steamboat,  and 
were  taken  to  St.  Paul,  and,  after  changing  steamers,  pro- 
ceeded down  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  where  another 
change  of  boats  was  made,  and  we  then  proceeded  up 
the  Missouri  river  to  Fort  Leavenworth.  Here  was  sta- 
tioned a  portion  of  the  Second  Cavalry,  commanded  by 
Col.  Robert  E.  Lee,  who  a  few  years  later  became  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  Confederate  forces  in  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion.  We  remained  here  much  longer  than  we 
anticipated,  owing  to  the  disturbed  condition  of  the 
Territory.  Joe  Lane,  John  Brown,  Atchinson,  Montgom- 
ery, and  others  were  raiding  it.  Elections  were  held  in 
different  places,  and  the  soldiers,  notwithstanding  their 


70  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

foreign  birth,  did  valiant  service  for  the  cause  of  freedom, 
voting  early  and  often. 

It  was  not  until  July  18,  1857,  that  we  started,  some 
four  weeks  later  than  was  intended.  We  found  that 
valuable  time  had  been  thus  wasted,  for  our  sufferings 
and  loss  of  animals  and  supplies  through  that  terrible 
winter  can  be  attributed  to  no  other  cause  than  this  un- 
necessary delay. 

A  few  days  previous  to  starting,  one  of  our  orderly- 
sergeants,  named  Wade,  deserted,  taking  away  consider- 
able money,  which  had  been  intrusted  to  him  by  his 
company  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  light  hats,  tin 
plates  and  cups,  and  other  necessary  things  for  the  march 
we  were  about  starting  upon.  It  caused  a  great  deal  of 
feeling  throughout  the  regiment.  Four  years  later,  in  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  at  Port  Royal,  South  Carolina, 
while  playing  down  the  line  at  brigade  dress  parade,  I 
saw  this  same  man,  who  was  then  a  lieutenant  in  the 
Forty-Seventh  New  York.  After  the  parade  was  dis- 
missed I  hurried  down  the  line  and  accosted  him  with, 
"  How  are  you,  Wade  ? "  He  pretended  not  to  know  me, 
and  said,  in  a  very  important  way,  that  I  was  greatly 
mistaken,  and  intimated  that  any  further  conversation 
would  be  objectionable.  I  told  him  it  was  no  use  to  at- 
tempt to  disguise  the  fact,  as  I  could  bring  others  who 
could  identify  him.  He  finally  acknowledged  it,  but 
begged  me  not  to  betray  him.  I  made  him  no  promise, 
for  I  considered  him  a  very  mean  rascal  to  steal  from  the 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  71 

small  earnings  of  the  poor  privates  of  his  company.  I 
informed  Lieutenant  Maxwell,  who  had  served  in  the 
Tenth  regulars,  and  well  remembered  the  circumstance, 
who  declared  he  would  have  him  punished.  A  short  time 
after,  he  was  arrested,  cashiered,  and  returned  to  the 
ranks. 

Prior  to  starting,  the  following  orders  were  promulgated  : 
That  we  were  to  inarch,  on  an  average,  fifteen  miles  a 
day  (this  order  was  not  strictly  observed,  as  we  marched 
some  days  over  thirty,  and  never  less  than  ten  miles ; 
the  latter  distance  not  more  than  three  or  four  times 
during  the  summer)  ;  that  we  were  to  rest  three  days  at 
Fort  Kearney,  and  the  same  at  Fort  Laramie  ;  and  that 
saluting  of  officers  and  observance  of  Sundays  would  be 
dispensed  with. 

The  march  at  first  was  very  trying,  and  the  ambulances 
were  well  filled  when  we  reached  camp.  It  was  a  notice- 
able fact,  that  the  small,  light  men  endured  the  long 
marches  the  best.  We  had  a  very  large  man  in  the  band, 
by  the  name  of  Josephus  Stark,  a  descendant  of  Gen.  John 
Stark  of  Revolutionary  fame,  who  weighed  over  two  hun- 
dred pounds,  and  measured  six  feet  in  height,  and  was, 
in  every  sense,  our  big  drummer.  He  gave  out  almost 
every  day  and  generally  came  into  camp  two  or  three  hours 
after  the  rest.  On  one  occasion  he  became  so  tired  and 
worn  out,  that  he  declared  he  could  go  no  farther,  and 
bade  us  all  good-by,  saying  that  he  was  going  to  lie  down, 
and  was  sure  he  should  die  before  morning.  The  ambu- 


72  REMINISCENCES  OF  A   VETERAN. 

lance  took  him  in,  as  we  knew  it  would.  He  afterwards 
got  accustomed  to  it,  and  did  his  marching  quite  well,  but 
he  was  frequently  reminded  of  his  dying  farewell,  which 
very  much  annoyed  him. 

Stark  was  the  only  Yankee  in  the  band,  and  New  Eng- 
land's name  and  fame  always  had  a  stanch  champion  in 
him.  He  was  strictly  honest,  generous  to  a  fault,  and 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  Whatever  we  had  or 
saw  never  compared  with  what  he  had  seen  in  Concord, 
New  Hampshire  (that  place  being  his  home),  and  we 
heard  it  so  often,  that  he  went  thereafter  by  the  name  of 
"  Concord,  New  Hampshire." 

White  beans  contributed  largely  to  the  soldiers'  rations, 
and  they  were  used  only  in  soup — a  diet  so  steady  that 
we  hated  the  sight  of  it ;  consequently  large  quantities 
were  thrown  away.  Our  big  Yankee  suggested  a  change, 
and  proposed  to  have  some  beans  baked ;  he  extolled 
their  excellence,  and  mentioned  the  fact  that  they  were 
eaten  largely  in  New  Hampshire.  As  we  were  all  igno- 
rant of  such  a  dish,  it  being  peculiar  to  New  England, 
we  told  him  that  if  he  could  get  up  any  improvement  on 
our  regular  method  we  should  be  rejoiced.  He  readily 
consented,  and  went  diligently  to  work  and  prepared  a 
meal  for  us  of  New  Hampshire's  favorite  dish.  Such 
a  meal  I  had  never  sat  down  to  before,  even  in  my  days 
of  poverty.  He  had  taken  the  beans,  without  either 
soaking  or  parboiling,  and,  with  a  generous  piece  of  pork, 
with  the  rind  all  sliced  in  pieces  of  exact  size,  baked 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  73 


them  several  hours.  He  said  they  required  a  deal  of 
baking.  When  they  came  out,  and  we  took  them  on  our 
plates,  they  rattled  like  shot,  and  were  almost  as  hard. 
Each  one  would  take  a  mouthful  and  endeavor  to  chew 
them,  though  in  every  instance  the  attempt  proved  a 
failure.  Out  of  respect  to  the  feelings  of  our  cook, 
who  had  endeavored  to  provide  us  with  something  nice, 
we  refrained  from  ridiculing  it,  until  at  last  we  could  hold 
out  no  longer,  and  then  one  incessant  roar  went  around 
the  group.  One  suggested  that  they  be  put  into  the  cof- 
fee-mill and  ground  and  eaten  as  porridge ;  another,  that 
we  use  them  for  shot  in  hunting;  while  one  old  Dutch- 
man thought  it  would  be  a  good  idea  to  use  them  as  a 
mode  of  punishment  in  the  guard-house,  by  making  each 
prisoner  eat  a  certain  quantity  each  day.  It  was  finally 
settled,  that  to  make  them  an  article  of  diet  for  the  army 
it  would  be  necessary  for  a  quartz-crushing  machine  to 
accompany  each  regiment.  Stark  apologized  for  the  un- 
savory mess,  saying  that  they  were  not  like  those  he  had 
so  often  eaten  at  home  in  Concord,  New  Hampshire. 

On  another  occasion  we  had  considerable  fun  at  his 
expense.  He  always  persisted  in  carrying  his  drum 
himself,  strapping  it  in  front  of  him  and  marching  along, 
feeling  almost  as  important  as  the  drum-major.  This  was 
a  rifle  regiment,  and  most  of  the  manoeuvring,  both  drill- 
ing and  marching,  was  executed  in  double  quick,  and 
the  adjutant  conceived  the  idea  of  having  the  band  run 
and  play,  which  we  frequently  did.  One  evening  several 


74  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

officers  from  another  regiment  were  visiting,  and  after 
the  evening's  parade  the  adjutant,  wishing  to  exhibit  the 
excellence  of  his  band,  asked  the  band-master  to  play 
from  the  parade  ground  to  the  quarters  in  double-quick 
time.  We  started,  playing  "Pop  goes  the  Weasel;" 
after  we  had  gone  a  short  distance,  we  heard  the  greatest 
uproar ;  the  whole  regiment  seemed  to  be  convulsed  with 
laughter.  It  was  something  we  could  not  understand,  so 
we  halted,  and,  on  looking  around,  saw  our  big  drummer, 
with  his  legs  in  the  air,  struggling  to  get  in  position.  He 
had  stumbled  and  fallen,  rolling  over  his  drum,  and 
Micky,  the  tenor  drummer,  had  tumbled  over  him.  The 
visitors  laughed  at  the  adjutant;  though  admitting  he 
had  a  good  band,  still  they  doubted  its  superiority  over 
some  others  of  the  line ;  but  as  contortionists,  there  was 
no  question  but  that  he  had  something  superior  to  any- 
thing they  had  ever  seen  in  the  army. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  75 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

FTER  a  few  days'  marching  we  came  to 
the  Big  Blue  river.  It  had  quite  a  belt 
of  timber  along  its  banks,  and,  strange  to 
say,  was  alive  with  pigs  and  hogs  of  every 
size ;  in  fact,  the  "  woods  were  full  of 
them."  Some  of  us  determined  upon  a  change  of  diet, 
by  substituting  fresh  pork  for  salt.  After  pitching  the 
tents,  we  sallied  forth  in  quest  of  the  porkers.  Very  soon 
the  air  resounded  with  the  din  of  small  arms,  and  from 
every  direction  the  men  could  be  seen  issuing  from  the 
woods  and  hurrying  to  camp  with  little  pigs  and  big  pigs 
on  their  backs  and  under  their  arms.  I  fortunately  se- 
cured three  small  "  Berkshires,"  which  I  skinned,  also 
cutting  off  their  heads  and  feet,  before  bringing  them  in  ; 
while  Carl  Myers,  a  German  member  of  the  band,  brought 
in  two  just  as  he  shot  them.  Now  it  so  happened  that 
an  old  squatter,  who  lived  some  distance  away,  upon 
hearing  the  noise  of  our  revolvers  came  running  to  camp 
and  claimed  that  the  pigs  were  his,  which  was  much 
doubted,  as  they  were  as  wild  as  buffalo ;  but  he  went 
straight  to  headquarters  and  complained  to  the  colonel 
of  this  wanton  destruction  of  his  property.  He  made  the 


76  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

commanding  officer  believe  his  story,  and  even  accom- 
pany him  in  his  search  among  the  tents.  Everywhere 
that  pigs  were  found,  the  men  were  made  to  pay  two  dol- 
lars apiece  for  them.  When  they  came  to  our  tent,  Carl's 
pigs  and  mine  were  lying  side  by  side.  Poor  Carl  had 
to  pay  for  his  pork,  because  he  had  not  skinned  it,  as  by 
that  the  old  squatter  swore  to  the  swine  as  his ;  but  mine 
being  divested  of  skin,  head,  and  legs,  neither  the  old 
fellow  nor  the  colonel  could,  by  the  closest  examination, 
come  to  any  definite  conclusion  in  regard  to  them,  so 
they  finally  asked  me  what  they  were.  "  Oh,"  said  I,  "  they 
are  rabbits ;  I  shot  them  on  the  march  this  morning." 
They  looked  at  me  dubiously,  and  passed  along,  with 
deep  disgust  depicted  on  the  countenance  of  the  old  fel- 
low, which  seemed  to  express  great  doubt  in  my  state- 
ment. It  was  not  the  pigs  which  he  cared  about,  but  the 
five  or  six  dollars  out  of  which  he  had  been  bluffed. 

At  Fort  Kearney  we  rested  three  days,  and  struck 
the  Platte  river.  We  had  now  come  about  four  hundred 
miles.  Our  marches  were  very  hard  on  these  desolate 
prairies,  there  being  neither  tree  nor  shrub  to  shelter 
us  from  the  sun.  Not  a  stick  of  wood  could  we  get  to 
burn  for  at  least  two  hundred  miles,  and  our  only  fuel  for 
cooking  purposes  was  buffalo  chips,  which  on  wet  days 
were  worthless,  and  in  windy  weather  very  unpleasant, 
scattering  the  ashes  over  everybody  and  everything,  not 
even  sparing  our  soup  kettles.  Each  day  on  getting  to 
camp  the  men  would  start  in  all  directions  for  fuel,  two 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  77 


men  to  a  blanket,  and  in  a  short  time  a  sufficient  sup- 
ply would  be  collected  for  the  day. 

We  had  now  reached  the  buffalo  country,  so  that  our 
living,  so  far  as  fresh  meat  was  concerned,  was  excellent. 
It  was  amazing  to  see  so  many  of  those  animals.  The 
prairies  were  black  with  them.  One  day  we  were  delayed 
by  an  immense  herd  rushing  by  the  head  of  the  column, 
which,  for  a  time,  gave  us  considerable  uneasiness. 

We  little  thought  as  we  gazed  upon  that  vast  herd, 
peacefully  grazing  on  the  mountain  sides,  in  the  valleys, 
and  on  the  open  prairies,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach 
in  every  direction,  that  in  so  short  a  time  all  that  would 
be  left  of  those  noble  animals  would  be  their  bleached 
bones. 

We  now  came  to  a  bridge  over  the  Platte  river,  but 
such  exorbitant  rates  were  demanded  for  crossing  the 
rude  structure  that  our  colonel  decided  to  ford  it.  The 
water  was  quite  deep,  reaching  to  our  waists,  but,  with 
the  exception  of  wetting  our  blankets  and  rations  in  the 
wagons,  we  got  safely  across. 

On  the  banks  of  this  stream  we  came  to  a  tribe  of 
Pawnee  Indians,  and  traded  extensively  with  them,  pro- 
curing buffalo  robes,  moccasins,  etc.,  but  after  getting 
our  goods  to  camp,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  small-pox 
was  raging  among  them,  so  everything  was  taken  from 
us  and  thrown  into  the  river.  We  quickly  left,  and  for- 
tunately no  one  contracted  the  disease. 

Slowly  we  traveled  along  day  by  day,  stopping  three 


78  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


days  at  Fort  Laramie,  passing  Laramie  Peak,  Independ- 
ence Rock  (at  this  rock  the  Mormons  on  their  way  to  Utah 
celebrated  Independence  Day),  Devil's  Gate,  Chimney 
and  Court-House  Rocks,  Fremont's  Peak,  South  Pass, 
etc.  At  Big  Sandy  we  made  our  longest  and  hardest 
day's  march,  of  thirty-five  miles,  across  a  sandy  desert, 
with  a  scorching  sun  pouring  down  upon  us  all  day,  and 
with  no  chance  of  getting  water  during  the  entire  march. 
When  we  came  to  the  river,  it  seemed  as  if  both  men  and 
animals  were  wild  ;  they  rushed  pell-mell  into  the  water, 
caring  for  neither  orders  nor  threats. 

Before  reaching  Utah  many  rumors  reached  us  con- 
cerning the  unfriendly  disposition  of  the  Mormons  to- 
wards the  government,  and  their  determination  to  resist 
by  force,  if  necessary,  the  entrance  of  troops  into  the 
territory,  but  we  gave  little  credence  to  these  reports 
until  we  received  the  following  proclamation  of  Brigham 
Young : 

PROCLAMATION  BY  THE  GOVERNOR. 

"  Citizens  of  Utah  : — We  are  invaded  by  a  hostile  force,  who  are 
evidently  assailing  us  to  accomplish  our  overthrow  and  destruction. 

"  For  the  last  twenty-five  years  we  have  trusted  officials  of  the 
government,  from  constables  and  justices  to  judges,  governors,  and 
presidents,  only  to  be  scorned,  held  in  derision,  insulted,  and  betrayed. 
Our  houses  have  been  plundered  and  then  burned,  our  fields  laid 
waste,  our  principal  men  butchered  while  under  the  pledged  faith  of 
the  government  for  their  safety,  and  our  families  driven  from  their 
homes  to  find  that  shelter  in  the  barren  wilderness,  and  that  protec- 
tion among  hostile  savages  which  were  denied  them  in  the  boasted 
abodes  of  Christianity  and  civilization. 


REMINISCENCES    OF  A    VETERAN.  79 

"The  Constitution  of  our  common  country  guarantees  to  us  all 
that  we  do  now,  or  have  ever  claimed. 

"  If  the  constitutional  rights,  which  pertain  unto  us  as  American 
citizens,  were  extended  to  Utah  according  to  the  spirit  and  meaning 
thereof,  and  fairly  and  impartially  administered,  it  is  all  we  could 
ask,  all  that  we  ever  asked. 

"  Our  opponents  have  availed  themselves  of  prejudice  existing 
against  us  because  of  our  religious  faith,  to  send  out  a  formidable 
host  to  accomplish  our  destruction.  We  have  had  no  privilege,  no 
opportunity  of  defending  ourselves  from  the  false,  foul,  and  unjust 
aspersions  against  us  before  the  nation. 

"The  government  has  not  condescended  to  cause  an  investigating 
committee,  or  other  person,  to  be  sent  to  inquire  into  and  ascertain 
the  truth,  as  is  customary  in  such  cases. 

"  We  know  these  aspersions  to  be  false,  but  that  avails  us  nothing. 
We  are  condemned  unheard,  and  forced  to  an  issue  with  an  armed 
mercenary  mob,  which  has  been  sent  against  us  at  the  instigation  of 
anonymous  letter-writers,  ashamed  to  father  the  base,  slanderous 
falsehoods  which  they  have  given  to  the  public ;  of  corrupt  officials, 
who  have  brought  their  false  accusations  against  us  to  screen  them- 
selves in  their  own  infamy;  of  hireling  priests  and  howling  editors, 
who  prostitute  the  truth  for  filthy  lucre's  sake. 

"  The  issue  which  has  been  forced  upon  us  compels  us  to  resort 
to  the  great  first  law  of  self-protection,  and  stand  in  our  own  de- 
fense, a  right  guaranteed  to  us  by  the  genius  of  the  institutions  of 
our  country,  and  upon  which  the  government  is  based. 

"  Our  duty  to  ourselves,  to  our  families,  requires  us  not  tamely  to 
be  driven  and  slain,  without  an  attempt  to  preserve  ourselves.  Our 
duty  to  our  country,  our  holy  religion,  our  God,  to  freedom  and  lib- 
erty, requires  that  we  should  not  quietly  stand  still  and  see  those 
fetters  forging  around  which  are  calculated  to  enslave  and  bring  us 
in  subjection  to  an  unlawful  military  despotism,  such  as  can  only 
emanate  (in  a  country  of  constitutional  law)  from  usurpation,  tyr- 
anny, and  oppression. 


80  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


11  Therefore,  I,  Brigham  Young,  Governor  and  Superintendent  of 
Indian  Affairs  for  the  Territory  of  Utah,  in  the  name  of  the  people 
of  the  United  States  in  the  Territory  of  Utah, 

"  ist.  Forbid  all  armed  forces  of  every  description  from  coming 
into  this  Territory,  under  any  pretence  whatever. 

"  2d.  That  all  the  forces  in  said  Territory  hold  themselves  in 
readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice  to  repel  any  and  all  such 
invasion. 

"  3d.  Martial  law  is  hereby  declared  to  exist  in  this  Territory  from 
and  after  the  publication  of  this  proclamation,  and  no  person  shall 
be  allowed  to  pass  or  repass  into  or  through,  or  from  the  Territory, 
without  a  permit  from  the  proper  officers. 

"Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  Territory 
of  Utah,  this  I5th  day  of  September,  A.  D.  1857,  and  of  the  Inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  of  America  the  82d. 

(Signed) 

"BRIGHAM  YOUNG." 

The  Mormons  now  began  to  trouble  us  considerably, 
impeding  our  progress  in  various  ways,  and  making  it  as 
difficult  for  us  as  possible.  Every  day  when  coming  to 
camp  they  would  set  the  grass  on  fire,  using  long  torches, 
and  riding  swift  horses,  so  that  before  pitching  tents  we 
always  had  to  fight  fire.  They  destroyed  so  much  of  it 
that  the  animals  had  to  be  driven  some  distance  to  get 
feed.  One  morning,  just  before  daybreak,  they  rushed 
through  the  camp,  firing  guns  and  yelling  like  Indians, 
driving  off  all  our  mules  and  horses,  numbering  about 
a  thousand,  and  before  we  could  get  into  line  they  were 
safely  out  of  reach  of  our  rifles.  It  was  ten  o'clock 
before  we  recovered  our  animals.  They  hovered  around 
daily,  watching  and  taking  every  advantage  of  us,  feel- 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  8 1 


ing  safe  in  their  tactics,  knowing  our  inability  to  cope 
with  them,  as  we  had  no  cavalry,  while  they  had  the 
fleetest  of  horses.  One  day  they  ventured  a  little  too 
near,  and  were  fired  upon  by  the  guard,  which  brought 
one  to  the  ground  ;  how  badly  he  was  wounded  we  did 
not  know,  as  they  quickly  carried  him  away. 

A  delegation  of  Mormons  came  to  our  camp,  bearing 
with  them  the  following  order  from  Brigham  Young : 

"GOVERNOR'S  OFFICE,  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

GREAT  SALT  LAKE  CITY,  Sept.  29,  1857. 

"  To  the  officer  commanding  the  forces  now  invading  Utah  Territory' 
"  SIR — By  reference  to  Act  of  Congress,  passed  Sept.  9,  1850,  or- 
ganizing the  Territory  of  Utah,  published  in  a  copy  of  the  Laws  of 
Utah,  herewith  forwarded,  p.  146-7,  you  will  find  the  following  r 
'  Section  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  executive  power  and 
authority  in  and  over  said  Territory  of  Utah  shall  be  vested  in  a 
governor,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  four  years  and  until  his  suc- 
cessor shall  be  appointed  and  qualified,  unless  sooner  removed  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States.  The  governor  shall  reside  within 
said  Territory,  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia  thereof,'  etc. 
"  I  am  still  the  Governor  and  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  for 
this  Territory,  no  successor  having  been  appointed  and  qualified,  as- 
provided  by  law,  nor  have  I  been  removed  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States.  By  virtue  of  the  authority  thus  vested  in  me,  I  have 
issued  and  forwarded  you  a  copy  of  my  proclamation  forbidding  the 
entrance  of  armed  forces  into  this  Territory.  This  you  have  dis- 
regarded." (Great  presumption,  this  ! ) 

"  I  now  farther  direct  that  you  retire  forthwith  from  the  Territory, 
by  the  same  route  you  entered.  Should  you  deem  this  impracticable, 
and  prefer  to  remain  until  spring  in  the  vicinity  of  your  present  po- 
sition, at  Black's  Fork  or  Green  River,  you  can  do  so  in  peace  and 


82  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

unmolested,  on  condition," — (now  comes  the  cream  of  the  joke) — 
"  that  you  deposit  your  arms  and  ammunition  with  Lewis  Robinson, 
Quartermaster-general  of  the  Territory,  and  leave  in  the  spring  as 
soon  as  the  condition  of  the  roads  will  permit  you  to  march.  And 
should  you  fall  short  of  provisions,  they  can  be  furnished  you  upon 
making  the  proper  applications  therefor. 

"General  D.  H.  Wells  will  forward  this,  and  receive  any  commu- 
nication you  may  have  to  make. 

"  Very  respectfully,  etc., 
(Signed)  "  BRIGHAM  YOUNG,  Governor,  etc" 

We  were  somewhat  surprised  that  our  colonel  tolerated 
such  impudence,  and  did  not  take  them  prisoners ;  but 
he  treated  them  courteously,  even  ordering  out  the  band 
to  entertain  them.  On  their  departure  he  instructed  them 
to  inform  Mr.  Brigham  Young  that  his  orders  to  proceed 
to  Salt  Lake  City  came  from  an  authority  much  higher 
than  his — from  the  President  of  the  United  States ;  that 
we  were  there  as  escort  to  Gov.  Gumming,  who  was  to 
supersede  him,  and  they  would  better  not  come  with  any 
more  such  orders. 

They  still  continued  to  annoy  us,  to  the  great  disgust 
of  the  colonel,  who  finally  decided  to  have  some  cavalry, 
so  one  morning  he  mounted  some  of  the  men  on  the 
fleetest  mules,  and  started  them  off  in  quest  of  the  ma- 
rauders. They  traveled  all  day  without  getting  sight  of 
them,  but  just  before  dark  they  came  to  a  valley  where 
three  of  them  were  preparing  supper.  Our  men  sprang 
upon  them,  taking  them  completely  unawares.  They 
were  a  captain,  quartermaster,  and  adjutant  of  the  Mor- 
mon Legion,  with  six  mules,  three  of  which  were  heavily 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  83 


laden  with  provisions  for  those  who  were  daily  annoying 
us.     They  also  were  bearers  of  the  following  orders : 

"HEADQUARTERS,  EASTERN  EXPEDITION, 

CAMP  NEAR  CASHECOVE,  Oct.  4,  1857. 

"  Maj.  Joseph  Taylor : — You  will  proceed  with  all  possible  dispatch, 
without  injuring  your  animals,  to  the  Oregon  road,  near  the  head  of 
Bear  river,  north  by  east  of  this  place.  Take  close  and  correct  ob- 
servations of  the  country  on  your  route.  When  you  approach  the 
road,  send  scouts  ahead  to  ascertain  if  the  invading  troops  have 
passed  that  way.  Should  they  have  passed,  take  a  concealed  route, 
and  get  ahead  of  them.  Express  to  Colonel  Burton,  who  is  now  on 
that  road  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  troops,  and  effect  a  junction  with 
him,  so  as  to  operate  in  concert. 

"On  ascertaining  the  locality  or  route  of  the  troops,  proceed  at 
once  to  annoy  them  in  every  possible  way.  Use  every  exertion  to 
stampede  their  animals,  and  set  fire  to  their  trains.  Burn  the  whole 
country  before  them  and  on  their  flanks.  Keep  them  from  sleeping 
by  night  surprises.  Blockade  the  road  by  felling  trees,  or  destroying 
the  fords  when  you  can.  Watch  for  opportunities  to  set  fire  to  the 
grass  on  their  windward,  so  as,  if  possible,  to  envelop  their  trains. 
Leave  no  grass  before  them  that  can  be  burned.  Keep  your  men 
concealed  as  much  as  possible,  and  guard  against  surprise.  Keep 
scouts  out  at  all  times  and  communications  open  with  Colonel  Bur- 
ton, Major  McAllister,  and  O.  P.  Rockwell,  who  are  operating  in  the 
same  way.  Keep  me  advised  daily  of  your  movements,  and  every 
step  the  troops  take,  and  in  which  direction. 

"  God  bless  you  and  give  you  success. 

"Your  brother  in  Christ, 
(Signed)        .       "DANIEL  H.  WELLS. 

"  P.  S. — If  the  troops  have  not  passed,  or  have  turned  in  this 
direction,  follow  in  their  rear,  and  continue  to  annoy  them,  and  stam- 
pede or  drive  off  their  animals  at  every  opportunity. 

D.  H.  WELLS." 


84  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

These  instructions  were  carried  out  to  the  letter.  After 
crossing  Green  river  and  making  our  way  towards  Ham's 
Fork,  the  Mormons  attacked  our  corrals  one  night  and 
burned  seventy-five  of  our  wagons  containing  supplies. 
The  teamsters  were  furnished  with  an  outfit  and  started 
east ;  and  it  is  stated  that  a  great  many  of  them  perished 
by  the  way  from  exhaustion  and  attacks  by  Indians. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  85 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

N  reaching  Ham's  Fork,  General  Johnston, 
the  commander  of  the  expedition,  had  not 
arrived,  and  Colonel  Alexander,  by  senior- 
ity of  rank,  assumed  command,  held  a 
council  of  war,  and  determined  to  change 
the  route  of  travel  via  Soda  Springs;  a  distance  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  farther  than  by  the  Echo  Canon, 
and  over  a  tract  of  country  which  had  never  been  traveled. 
The  order  was  issued,  and  next  day  we  began  the  weary 
march.  After  journeying  several  days,  and  as  we  were 
about  coming  to  the  Oregon  road,  an  orderly  overtook 
us  with  an  unwelcome  order  from  General  Johnston  to 
retrace  our  steps  and  rejoin  him  at  once. 

Now  commenced  our  terrible  hardships.  In  the  night 
it  grew  cold,  the  wind  blew,  and  snow  began  to  fall,  and 
when  we  turned  out  next  morning,  the  ground  was  cov- 
ered with  several  inches  of  snow,  and,  worst  of  all,  more 
than  two  hundred  of  our  mules  were  dead  or  dying. 
Slowly  and  sorrowfully  we  took  our  backward  line  of 
march.  The  snow  was  six  inches  deep,  the  grass  all  cov- 
ered, and  the  animals  starving.  The  advance  had  been 
slow,  but  the  retreat  was  still  slower.  On  the  3d  of 


86  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


November  we  reached 
the  point  from  which 
we  had  started,  where 
we  joined  General  John- 
ston, who  had  with  him 
a  company  of  cavalry 
and  the  remainder  of 
the  supply  train. 

On  resuming  the 
march  our  animals  died 
so  fast  from  cold  and 
hunger,  that  it  was 
found  impossible  to 
Gen.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston.  carry  all  the  freight 

with  which  we  were  laden,  and  in  order  to  lighten  it  some- 
what, a  new  "kit"  throughout  was  issued  to  every  man. 
Things  which  we  did  not  need  and  could  not  carry,  were 
ordered  to  be  left,  and  we  were  thus  obliged  to  throw 
away  the  clothing  we  had  on,  when  but  half  worn,  and 
put  on  the  new  thus  forced  upon  us,  and,  of  course, 
obliged  to  defray  this  extra  expense.  But  this  was  noth- 
ing, if  only  the  government  saved  something  by  the  trans- 
action. The  poor  soldier,  with  his  eleven  dollars  a  month, 
was  amply  able  to  pay  for  it. 

As  we  continued  our  march  towards  Fort  Bridger,  mis- 
fortune seemed  to  come  upon  us  at  every  step.  The 
animals  dropped  and  died  at  almost  every  rod  of  prog- 
ress made.  On  the  night  of  November  6th,  five  hundred 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  87 

of  the  animals  perished,  and  this  was  named  "The 
Camp  of  Death." 

After  the  burning  of  the  wagons  our  line  was  extended 
the  whole  length  of  the  train,  which  was  about  six  miles 
long,  so  that  we  were  on  our  feet  all  day,  and  yet  ac- 
complished but  two  or  three  miles.  This  was  occasioned 
by  the  animals  falling  so  frequently.  Oxen,  mules,  and 
horses,  dead  and  dying,  strewed  the  road  for  fifty  miles. 
As  soon  as  an  animal  fell  the  train  was  halted  until  it 
could  be  taken  and  hauled  aside ;  and  thus  it  continued 
throughout  the  day,  and  frequently  darkness  would  over- 
take us  before  we  encamped,  and  the  wagons  would  be- 
come so  mixed  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  we  could 
tell  one  from  another. 

The  snow  continued  to  increase  in  depth,  and  the 
water  of  the  streams  which  we  had  to  ford  (and  they 
seemed  to  grow  more  numerous  the  farther  we  advanced), 
grew  colder  and  colder.  As  we  approached  one,  a  shud- 
der would  go  through  the  ranks,  and  we  would  hesitate 
before  walking  in.  It  was  at  these  fording  places  that 
Major  Canby  won  the  respect  of  the  troops,  by  his  con- 
sideration. Coming  up  to  a  stream  upon  his  horse,  he 
would  quietly  dismount,  throw  his  bridle  upon  his  arm, 
and  lead  his  horse  through.  Of  course  we  followed  him, 
but  not  with  much  spirit,  for  our  endurance  and  courage 
were  well-nigh  exhausted.  No  songs  or  hilarity  could  be 
heard  along  the  line.  On  reaching  the  camping  ground, 
which  was  frequently  after  dark,  we  would  scrape  away 


88 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


with  our  feet  the  thickest  of  the  snow,  pitch  the  tents, 
eat  supper,  which  consisted  of  hardtack  and  coffee,  and 
then  lie  down  in  our  wet  clothes,  which  for  many  days 
had  not  been  removed,  and  try  to  sleep,  only  to  be  called 
up  early  the  next  morning  to  go  over  the  same  wearisome 

routine  through  anoth- 
er day.  For  fuel  we 
had  nothing  but  a  few 
alders,  which  grew  be- 
side the  streams,  and 
which  afforded  us  but 
little  warmth. 

Our  supplies  were 
rapidly  disappearing, 
and  as  it  was  deemed 
necessary  to  replenish 
them  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, Captain  Marcy, 

wjth 


Major  Edward   R.  S.  Canby. 

was  sent  to  New  Mexico  for  that  purpose.  The  sufferings 
of  that  little  band,  as  they  made  their  way  through  snow 
and  ice,  eating  the  flesh  from  the  carcasses  of  their 
animals  as  they  fell  from  exhaustion,  is  a  history  in  itself. 
One  day  we  laid  over  to  collect  the  train,  which  had 
become  very  much  scattered.  Thinking  there  might  be 
some  game  around,  I  started  out  for  a  hunt  along  the 
mountain  side,  taking  Micky  O'Brien  with  me.  After  a 
long  travel,  without  any  signs  of  game,  we  halted  to  rest, 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  89 

and  while  doing  so,  espied  a  rabbit  coming  from  a  hole, 
but  before  I  could  fire  he  had  scampered  back.  We  ran 
to  the  place  and  found  the  hole  in  a  shelving  rock,  which 
could  be  taken  to  pieces  by  layers.  After  working  about 
an  hour,  we  got  so  that  we  could  see  him,  and  thrusting 
in  my  arm,  I  drew  him  out.  We  were  very  much  elated 
at  our  success,  and  Micky  was  so  jubilant  that  he  could 
scarcely  contain  himself.  He  began  to  jump  and  dance, 
and,  making  a  misstep,  fell  and  rolled  quite  a  distance 
down  the  mountain  before  he  could  recover  himself.  He 
was  somewhat  bruised,  but  not  so  badly  as  to  interfere 
with  his  joy  at  our  extraordinary  luck,  as  he  hastened 
back  singing  a  favorite  song  of  his  called  "  Widow 
Machree."  We  talked  of  the  surprise  it  would  create  in 
camp  ;  how  they  would  gather  around  and  wish  they  had 
it;  what  inducements  would  be  held  out  to  part  with  it; 
how  we  should  cook  it ;  and,  above  all,  of  what  a  glorious 
feast  was  in  store  for  us.  I  intrusted  the  rabbit  to 
Micky's  care,  thinking  perhaps  I  might  get  another  one. 
The  rabbit  struggled  hard  to  get  away,  and,  fearing  he 
might  do  so,  Micky  concluded  to  tie  his  legs.  He  ac- 
cordingly took  his  handkerchief,  and,  as  he  thought, 
securely  fastened  the  rabbit  and  threw  it  down  on  the 
snow.  Suddenly  my  attention  was  directed  to  Micky, 
who  was  yelling  loudly  and  running  after  the  animal, 
which  had  got  away,  and  was  traveling  ten  times  faster 
than  he.  He  said,  "  That  rabbit  is  the  divil  himself,  for 
after  tying  him  with  my  handkerchief,  the  brute  has 


90  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

scooted  off  without  legs."  He  had  tied  the  hind  legs,  but 
that  did  not  prevent  the  rabbit  from  running  as  well  as 
ever.  It  was  a  great  disappointment.  The  delicious 
meal  we  had  in  contemplation  had  suddenly  disappeared, 
and  all  through  Micky's  silly  blunder.  We  hunted  the 
remainder  of  the  day,  but  got  nothing,  and,  hungry  and 
disconsolate,  we  took  our  way  back  to  camp. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


91 


CHAPTER  XV. 

E  were  much  surprised  on  reaching  Fort 
Bridger  to  find  nothing  but  four  bare  walls, 
about  ten  feet  high.  Here  we  were  obliged 
to  stop,  our  animals  entirely  failing  us,  the 
greater  portion  being  left  dead  beside  the 
road  for  the  buzzards  and  wolves  to  feed  upon.  These 
walls  are  said  to  be  five  thousand  feet  above  the  sea-level, 
and  to  us  it  looked  a  very  dreary  place  in  which  to  win- 
ter, with  nothing  but  tents  to  shelter  us  from  the  cold. 
The  few  remaining  skeletons  of  what  had  once  been 
oxen  were  now  slaughtered  and  thrown  into  a  pile  to 
freeze,  and  what  was  left  of  the  supplies  was  taken  into 
the  fort.  What  fuel  we  had  was  obtained  by  harnessing 
ourselves  into  the  heavy  army  wagons,  and  dragging  them 
for  miles  through  the  deep  snow  to  gather  alders,  which 
was  the  only  wot)d  that  could  be  obtained  here,  and  which 
barely  sufficed  to  keep  us  from  freezing.  On  all  these 
trips  we  had  to  go  armed,  as  the  Mormons  were  hovering 
around  all  the  time,  ready  to  pick  up  all  stragglers.  Our 
supplies  were  diminishing  so  fast  that  it  became  neces- 
sary to  reduce  the  rations,  so  that  instead  of  eighteen 
ounces  of  flour  a  day  for  each  man,  we  received  but 


9 2  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

eight,  with  a  small  piece  of  the  frozen  beef  and  a  pinch  of 
coffee  and  sugar.  As  we  were  without  yeast  or  anything 
to  raise  the  dough  with,  it  made  a  very  unpalatable  morsel. 
The  salt  soon  gave  out,  and  it  was  greatly  missed  by  all. 
As  a  resort,  we  got  the  old  dirty  bacon  sacks,  which  had 
been  thrown  away,  soaked  them  in  hot  water,  and  bottled 
the  liquid.  We  were  very  choice  of  even  this,  carefully 
stowing  it  away  in  our  knapsacks. 

We  resorted  to  many  ways  to  keep  warm,  one  of  which 
was  to  dig  holes,  and,  with  poles  and  reeds,  put  roofs  over 
them ;  we  made  fireplaces  with  rocks,  but  as  there  were 
no  windows  or  doors,  it  was  little  better  than  our  tents. 

The  laborious  work  of  hauling  the  wood  soon  mani- 
fested itself  on  us ;  we  grew  thin  and  weak,  and  it  required 
double  the  number  to  haul  the  loads  than  it  did  at 
first.  This  was  not  to  be  wondered  at  when  the  small 
amount  of  food  that  we  were  allowed  is  taken  into  con- 
sideration. 

For  these  sufferings  from  hunger,  by  our  rations  being 
reduced  to  less  than  half,  we  were  never  reimbursed.  I 
do  not  think  the  government  derived  any  benefit  there- 
from, but  I  do  believe  that  some  high  officials  reaped  a 
rich  harvest  from  this  and  other  sources. 

It  was  at  this  stage  of  starvation  that  I  perpetrated 
a  very  excusable  theft,  I  think.  The  adjutant's  cook  was 
engaged  in  baking  biscuits  (officers  were  allowed  what 
flour  they  needed,  and  they  also  purchased  all  the  yeast 
powder  from  the  sutler).  I  had  seen  him  performing 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  93 

this  same  work  many  times  before,  and  had  often  wished 
for  one  of  those  enticing  biscuits,  but  the.  thought  of 
stealing  had  never  entered  my  head  until  this  day.  I 
was  cold  and  hungry,  and  seeing  him  take  out  of  the 
oven  a  batch  of  biscuits  and  enter  the  tent  for  something, 
I  deliberately  walked  up,  took  the  biscuits,  placed  them 
under  the  cape  of  my  overcoat,  and  walked  off  to  my 
tent  and  put  them  into  my  knapsack.  In  a  few  minutes, 
the  whole  camp  was  aroused,  and  all  sorts  of  rumors 
were  in  circulation, — somebody  had  broken  into  the 
adjutant's  tent  and  stolen  about  all  he  had.  The  guard 
was  sent  for,  tents  were  searched,  and  all  suspicious 
persons  examined.  The  band,  naturally,  was  exempt 
from  all  suspicion,  being  considered  above  such  mean 
tricks.  Paltry  as  it  seems  now,  at  that  time  it  was  worth 
more  than  gold  ;  in  fact,  money  could  not  have  purchased 
that  batch  of  biscuits. 

Brigham  Young  had  heard  that  our  supply  of  salt  had 
become  exhausted,  so  sent  one  of  his  saints  with  three 
mules  heavily  laden  with  that  article.  We  were  pleased 
to  hear  of  this,  and  much  disappointed  when  told  of 
the  refusal  of  it  by  General  Johnston,  who  ordered  the 
man  out  of  camp,  and  threatened  if  he  came  again  to 
keep  him  a  prisoner.  Some  of  the  men  followed  him 
out  of  camp  and  secured  the  salt ;  in  what  way  we  never 
knew,  but  it  was  a  grand  speculation,  for  it  was  retailed 
out  at  five  dollars  a  pound.  It  was  an  exorbitant  price 
to  pay  for  such  an  article,  especially  when  we  consider 


94  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

that  within  one  hundred  miles  of  us  was  one  of  the 
largest  salt  lakes  known  ;  but  the  snow  was  so  deep,  and 
the  Mormons  so  numerous  between  us  and  the  lake,  that 
it  was  impossible  to  reach  it,  and  we  were  glad  to  get  salt 
at  any  price.  Money  was  not  scarce  with  us,  as  we  had 
not  long  before  received  eight  months'  pay.  Gambling 
was  indulged  in  by  almost  every  one,  tents  being  erected 
solely  for  that  purpose,  and  some  accumulated  large  sums 
from  this  source.  Tobacco  was  a  precious  article.  A 
piece  the  size  of  half  a  dollar  cost  that  amount.  Whiskey 
and  all  stimulants  had  long  since  disappeared,  that  is, 
among  the  rank  and  file.  The  exhaustion  of  these  arti- 
cles was  felt  severely  by  those  who  had  become  slaves 
to  their  enticing  influence.  A  member  of  the  band  was 
one  of  these  sufferers,  and  as  a  substitute  he  purchased 
all  the  sutler's  pain-killer  and  essence  of  peppermint. 

A  tribe  of  Ute  Indians  encamped  near  us.  One  day 
they  were  celebrating  some  event,  and  an  invitation  was 
extended  to  a  portion  of  the  band,  for  favors  granted,  to 
take  dinner  with  them.  They  prepared  one  of  their 
choicest  dishes  for  the  occasion,  which  was  dog  soup. 
Arriving  earlier  than  the  hour  set  for  the  banquet,  we 
were  entertained  by  watching  the  squaws  prepare  the 
festive  meal,  particularly  the  consommL  A  large  and 
beautiful  dog,  which  doubtless  had  been  fatted  for  the 
occasion,  was  tied  by  the  neck  to  a  pole  stuck  in  the 
ground.  The  poor  animal  seemed  to  know  that  his  life 
was  in  danger,  for  he  pulled  and  twisted  until  he  was 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  95 

nearly  strangled,  when  a  squaw  approached  him  stealthily 
from  behind  and  dealt  him  a  blow  on  the  .head  with  a 
club,  which  stunned  him,  and  after  a  few  more  blows  he 
was  pronounced  dead.  A  large  fire  had  been  prepared 
some  time  before,  so  that  there  was  quite  a  bed  of  coals. 
On  these  he  was  thrown,  and  all  parts  were  singed  and 
burned  until  he  was  as  black  as  a  coal. 

Their  cooking  utensils  were  rather  crude,  consisting  of 
an  old  rusty  camp  kettle  and  a  half  barrel ;  the  latter 
article  had  been  used  by  us  as  a  wash-tub.  The  tub  was 
half  filled  with  hot  water,  when  the  singed  dog  was 
thrown  into  it,  and  well  scrubbed  with  brown  soap.  After 
this,  he  was  taken  out  and  wiped  dry,  and  looked  as  white 
and  nice  as  any  meat.  He  was  then  opened,  and  the 
same  suds  applied  to  the  inside.  Then  he  was  cut  up  into 
small  pieces,  and  thrown  into  the  kettle.  After  a  long 
and  steady  boiling,  it  was  taken  off  and  we  were  cour- 
teously invited  to  partake  thereof.  I  did  not  indulge 
very  freely  of  that  soup,  but,  aside  from  the  cooking,  I 
was  satisfied  that  it  was  preferable  to  the  stuff  issued 
to  us  by  the  commissary. 

Christmas  was  gloomy,  as  was  also  Washington's  Birth- 
day ;  even  St.  Patrick  was  slighted,  but  Fast  day  was 
never  more  strictly  observed. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  March  the  following  order  was 
read  at  dress  parade  : 

"GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  17. 

"  The  general  commanding  announces,  with  pleasure,  the  arrival  in 
New  Mexico  of  the  expedition,  under  Capt.  Randolph  B.  Marcy, 


96  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

Fifth  Infantry,  organized  in   special  orders  No.   50,  army  of  Utah, 

1857- 

"  After  a  laborious  march  across  the  mountains,  through  snow 
from  two  to  five  feet  deep,  for  two  hundred  miles,  the  men  breaking 
the  track  for  their  weaned  animals  through  the  deep  and  hard-packed 
snow,  the  command  reached  Tarvo,  New  Mexico,  on  the  22d  of  Jan- 
uary, 1858,  without  food,  other  than  their  dying  animals,  enduring 
almost  unparalleled  sufferings ;  struggling  for  existence,  the  members 
of  this  energetic  band  maintained,  amid  numerous  perils  and  toils, 
their  good  conduct  and  subordination,  displaying  an  example  in  their 
country's  cause  worthy  of  imitation,  and  of  which  their  country  and 
the  army  is  justly  proud. 

"  With  deep  regret  is  announced  the  death  of  one  member  of  the 
expedition,  Sergt.  William  H.  Morton,  of  Co.  E,  loth  Infantry,  from 
exposure  to  cold,  after  over-exertion,  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty. 

"  By  order  of 

"GEN.  ALBERT  S.  JOHNSTON. 
(Signed)        Frrz  J.  PORTER." 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  97 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

N  the  eighteenth  of  March  we  changed  our 
camp  ground,  and  moved  about  two  miles, 
in  a  violent  storm,  which  continued  for 
three  days,  badly  drifting  the  snow,  so 
that  we  could  get  no  wood ;  but  we  got 
along  as  best  we  could,  realizing  that  at  the  close  of  each 
day  we  were  so  much  nearer  spring. 

We  )ittle  thought  while  enduring  these  hardships  that 
Brigham  Young  and  his  saints  gathered  in  their  temples 
to  rejoice  and  give  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  not  only 
sending  these  trials  upon  us,  but  for  enabling  a  cowardly,, 
black-hearted  set  of  villains  to  increase,  if  possible,  our 
misery,  many  of  them,  doubtless,  with  their  hands  still  red 
with  the  blood  of  their  innocent  victims  of  the  Mountain 
Meadow  massacre. 

The  men  behaved  nobly  under  these  trying  circum- 
stances. Not  a  murmur  was  heard,  and  all  orders  were 
promptly  obeyed.  They  were  assured  that  their  com- 
mander was  doing  his  best,  and  they  felt  it  incumbent 
upon  them  to  aid  him  in  every  way.  There  were  times 
when  it  seemed  cruel  to  send  the  men  two  thousand  feet 
up  the  steep  and  slippery  mountain  sides  in  storms  so 


98  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

violent  that  it  was  with  difficulty  the  ascent  could  be 
made ;  but  picket  duty  was  a  necessity. 

The  latter  part  of  March  a  Mr.  Kane  came  into  camp, 
and  represented  himself  as  a  self-constituted  ambassador, 
with  a  letter  of  credence  from  President  Buchanan  to 
Governor  Gumming.  What  the  nature  of  that  interview 
was,  we  never  knew ;  but  from  transactions  which  oc- 
curred afterward,  we  were  led  strongly  to  believe  that  our 
governor,  whom  we  had  marched  eleven  hundred  miles 
to  escort  and  protect,  and  for  whom  we  were  almost 
starving,  was  intriguing  with  Brigham  Young.  That  was 
the  universal  opinion  at  that  time,  and  I  have  yet  to 
learn  the  contrary. 

By  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  civil  law  supersedes 
military,  so  that  General  Johnston  was  subject  to  all 
orders  emanating  from  Governor  Gumming,  who  assert- 
ed this  authority  with  a  high  hand.  This  man  Kane,  if 
not  a  Mormon,  was  in  full  sympathy  with  them.  He  was 
allowed  by  the  governor  to  come  and  go  whenever  he 
pleased ;  he  rode  into  camp  at  all  hours  of  the  night,  some- 
times firing  pistols  and  alarming  the  whole  camp,  recog- 
nizing neither  picket  nor  guard.  The  commanding  officer 
grew  tired  of  this  manoeuvring,  and  notified  the  gentle- 
man that  in  the  future,  when  ordered  by  the  guard  to 
halt,  he  must  obey,  or  suffer  the  consequences.  One 
night,  about  twelve  o'clock,  he  came  again,  and,  as  usual, 
would  not  observe  the  sentinel's  challenge,  but  attempted 
to  gallop  his  horse  by  the  guard,  upon  which  a  gentle  re- 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


99 


minder  was  given  him,  in  the  shape  of  a  bullet,  which  took 
a  lock  of  hair  from  one  side  of  his  head.  He  halted, 
and  was  taken  to  the  guard-house.  The  governor,  hearing 
of  it,  came  and  insisted  upon  his  immediate  release, 
and  took  him  to  his  tent.  The  general  was  quite  indig- 
nant when  he  heard  of  the  proceeding,  and  sent  a  file  of 
the  guard  to  bring  him  back ;  whereupon  the  governor 
appeared  at  the  entrance  of  his  tent,  and  threatened 
to  strike  down  the  first  man  who  attempted  to  enter, 
saying  that  if  they  took  him  it  would  be  across  his  own 
dead  body.  He  was  a  man  weighing  at  least  three  hun- 
dred pounds,  so  this  would 
have  been  no  small  under- 
taking. He  had  the  law  on 
his  side,  so  nothing  could  be 
done  but  to  withdraw. 

Our  supplies  were  now 
nearly  all  gone,  and  a  coun- 
cil of  war  was  held  to  de- 
termine what  course  to  pur- 
sue. It  was  proposed  by 
Colonel  Smith  to  let  the  men 
go  where  they  pleased;  he 
was  certain  which  way  they  would  travel,  and  he  would 
take  the  same  direction. 

Two  or  three  days  after  this  a  courier  arrived  with  the 
intelligence  that  supplies  were  on  the  way  from  Fort 
Laramie  and  would  reach  us  in  a  day  or  two  ;  that  the 


Lt.-Col.  Charles  F.  Smith. 


100  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

train  had  been  on  the  road  some  weeks,  and  the  men  had 
been  obliged  to  dig  through  the  snow  a  great  part  of  the 
way,  and  were  used  up.  We  watched  the  road  hourly  for 
them,  each  one  anxious  to  make  the  first  announcement. 
About  ten  o'clock  one  morning  a  soldier  espied  them 
from  a  bluff,  and  gave  the  alarm  by  shouting,  "  Here  they 
come !  The  supplies  are  in  sight ! "  When  lo !  a  small 
speck  is  seen  in  the  distance.  The  men  rush  from 
their  tents,  all  anxious  to  get  a  glimpse  of  the  train.  It 
draws  nearer  and  nearer,  until,  at  last,  we  grasp  the  hands 
of  our  comrades,  who  have  come  so  far  and  suffered  so 
much  in  our  behalf. 

NOTE. — Lieut.-Colonel  Smith  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  served  in 
all  Taylor's  battles  in  Mexico,  winning  laurels  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma.  Long  after  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  General  Sherman  wrote  of  this 
officer  :  "  Had  C.  F.  Smith  lived,  Grant  would  have  disappeared  to  history 
after  Donelson."  At  the  storming  of  that  fort,  General  Smith,  seeing  a  wav- 
ering in  the  ranks  of  his  division,  placed  his  cap  on  his  sword,  swung  it  high 
in  the  air,  and  shouted :  "  No  flinching  now,  my  lads  !  Come  on  ! "  Picking 
a  path  among  the  trees,  the  men  followed  after  their  gallant  chief  up  the  hill 
and  planted  their  colors  on  the  breastworks.  How  singular  it  was  that  this 
little  force  should  furnish  two  such  prominent  generals  in  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion — Gens.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  and  Charles  F.  Smith,  the  former 
considered  by  many  the  ablest  general  in  the  Confederate  army,  as  the  latter 
was  considered  in  the  Union  army. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  IOI 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

HE  first  of  June  Governor  Gumming  re- 
quested of  the  general  a  dozen  men  as 
escort  for  him  to  Salt  Lake  City.  The 
general  informed  him  that  we  were  all  his 
escort,  and  that  if  he  needed  our  services 
we  were  ready  to  go,  but  on  no  account  should  he  allow 
any  detachments  to  leave.  On  hearing  this,  the  governor 
packed  his  traps  and  left,  and  was  met  outside  the  camp 
by  a  party  of  Mormons,  who  escorted  him  safely  to  the 
city  of  the  saints.  This  same  Gumming,  before  accept- 
ing the  nomination  as  governor  of  Utah,  exacted  a  prom- 
ise from  President  Buchanan  that  an  escort  of  twenty- 
five  hundred  men  should  be  furnished  him ;  and  now 
when  within  a  few  days'  travel  of  our  destination,  he  de- 
parts, with  his  bosom  friend  Kane  and  a  coterie  of  Mor- 
mons, and  enters  Zion,  amid  a  flourish  of  trumpets,  and 
with  a  cordial  greeting  from  the  shrewd  Brigham  Young, 
leaving  us  to  get  there  as  best  we  can. 

Three  days  after  his  arrival  in  the  city  His  Excellency 
notified  General  Johnston  that  he  had  been  fully  recog- 
nized as  the  governor  of  the  territory,  and  was  in  full 
and  unmolested  discharge  of  his  duties,  and  that  there- 


102  REMINISCENCES  OF  A   VETERAN. 

fore  the  presence  of  the  army  in  Salt  Lake  City  was 
altogether  unnecessary.  What  base  ingratitude  ! 

We  broke  camp  the  latter  part  of  June,  and  started 
for  Salt  Lake  City,  passing  on  our  way  various  fortifica- 
tions which  had  been  erected  by  the  Mormons  to  retard 
our  progress.  At  Echo  Canon  great  preparations  had 
been  made  to  receive  us.  This  canon  was  about  twenty 
miles  long,  and  on  either  side  the  mountains  loomed  up 
thousands  of  feet.  In  many  places  trenches  had  been  dug, 
leaving  just  space  enough  to  pass,  while  on  the  tops  of 
these  mountains  fortifications  had  been  erected,  by  piling 
up  the  rocks.  Holes  were  left  to  see  and  fire  through, 
and  huge  bowlders  were  so  poised  that  the  least  push 
would  launch  them  down  upon  us.  We  had  little  to  fear 
from  these  dangers ;  all  were  deserted,  and  their  log  bar- 
ricades served  us  well  for  fuel. 

Rain  had  fallen  in  torrents  all  day,  and  when  we  came 
to  Bear  river  it  was  so  swollen  that  it  seemed  impossible 
to  cross  it.  The  first  wagon  that  attempted  it  was  taken 
down  stream  and  the  mules  drowned ;  but  the  teamster 
of  the  band  wagon  was  determined  to  risk  it,  as  he  had 
two  very  tall  wheel  mules.  He  fastened  a  rope  to  the 
two  small  leaders,  and  the  band  waded  across  and  pulled 
them  through.  There  was  so  much  danger  attending  this 
method  that  the  colonel  forbade  any  more  crossing  that 
night;  consequently  we  were  the  only  ones  encamped  on 
that  side  of  the  river. 

We  next  came  to  a  pretty  stream  called  Beaver  river, 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  103 


a  tributary  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake  which  was  noted  for  the 
great  number  of  beavers  abounding  there.  .  Trees  were 
cut  and  dams  were  formed  in  all  parts  of  the  river.  To 
those  unacquainted  with  the  habits  of  these  animals  it 
was  hard  to  believe  that  they  could  perform  such  won- 
derful work. 

An  incident  occurred  here  which  was  quite  amusing. 
A  Mormon  had  the  audacity  to  come  into  camp  with 
flour  and  other  eatables  to  sell,  for  which  he  asked  an 
exorbitant  price.  Now  we  thought  that  as  he  and  others 
of  the  saints  had  destroyed  so  many  of  our  provisions, 
and  caused  us  so  much  trouble  through  the  winter,  it  was 
rather  impudent  in  him  to  come  and  attempt  to  dispose 
of  his  wares  to  us,  when,  in  all  probability,  some  of  them 
had  been  stolen  from  our  trains  before  they  were  burned ; 
so  we  gathered  around,  and  while  he  was  talking  with  those 
in  front,  others  would  be  helping  themselves  from  behind  ; 
upon  discovering  this  he  would  remonstrate  with  them 
for  taking  his  goods  without  payment,  when  those  in 
front  would  help  themselves.  In  a  short  time  his  cart 
was  empty,  and  I  believe  had  he  stopped  much  longer, 
his  horse,  cart,  and  even  he  himself  would  have  been  dis- 
posed of.  He  entered  a  complaint  to  the  colonel,  but  the 
only  answer  he  received  was  that  it  served  him  right,  and 
he  was  told  not  to  show  himself  in  camp  again. 

Our  anxiety  now  became  greater  every  day,  in  antici- 
pation of  beholding  that  wonderful  city  toward  which  we 
had  been  traveling  for  almost  a  year.  We  came  at  length 


104  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

to  the  Wahsatch  mountains,  the  last  barrier  which  sepa- 
rated us  from  the  long-looked-for  city.  It  was  a  very  hot 
day  in  June  when  we  commenced  the  ascent,  and  most  of 
the  men  were  in  their  shirt-sleeves.  Our  route  was  circui- 
tous, and  we  must  have  traveled  a  dozen  miles  before  we 
reached  the  summit,  where  it  was  snowing  and  blowing, 
and  so  extremely  cold  that  it  became  necessary  to  put 
on  overcoats  and  build  fires.  Here,  spread  out  before 
us,  lay  the  valley  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake.  It  is  impos- 
sible for  me  to  give  a  fitting  description  of  it  as  it  ap- 
peared at  that  time,  but  to  my  mind  it  was  a  perfect 
picture  of  all  that  was  grand  and  beautiful  in  Nature. 

We  remained  on  the  top  of  the  mountain  about  two 
hours,  preparing  for  the  descent,  which  was  quite  difficult, 
owing  to  its  steepness.  The  cannon  and  wagons  were 
lowered  with  ropes,  and  the  animals  led  down  by  their 
drivers.  It  was  toilsome  work,  but  we  reached  the  foot 
safely,  where  it  seemed  like  getting  into  another  world, 
so  great  was  the  change  in  temperature.  It  might  natu- 
rally be  expected  that  such  extremes  of  heat  and  cold 
would  prove  injurious  to  health,  but  we  experienced  no 
bad  results. 

On  June  26th,  1858,  nearly  one  year  from  the  time  of 
its  departure  from  Leavenworth,  the  Federal  army,  in  all 
its  glory,  entered  the  streets  of  Zion.  No  flourish  of 
trumpets  or  cordial  greetings  were  extended  to  us.  The 
stillness  was  profound.  All  the  houses  were  deserted, 
and  their  windows  were  boarded  up.  It  is  said  that  pre- 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  105 

vious  to  their  leaving,  wood,  shavings,  and  other  combus- 
tibles were  placed  in  the  houses,  so  that  the -work  of  de- 
struction would  be  the  more  speedy.  After  marching  a 
short  distance,  we  halted  in  front  of  Brigham  Young's 
house,  which  was  quite  an  imposing  structure.  Over  the 
entrance  was  a  crouching  lion,  while  near  by  stood  the 
beehive  mansion.  We  played  several  tunes  here,  mostly 
national  airs.  After  giving  three  cheers  for  the  flag  and 
the  same  for  the  President  of  the  United  States,  we 
passed  along  and  came  to  a  very  pretty  building,  with 
the  national  flag  in  front  of  the  door.  This  house  was 
occupied  by  Governor  Gumming.  We  were  ordered  to 
play  the  "Star-Spangled  Banner"  for  His  Excellency,  but 
it  was  grudgingly  done ;  we  felt  more  like  playing  the 
"Rogues'  March." 

Judges  Eccles  and  Cradlebaugh,  two  conscientious  men, 
who  came  with  the  army,  could  not  hire  a  house  in  the 
territory,  and  were  obliged  to  dwell  in  camp  with  the 
troops. 

We  remained  in  the  city  about  an  hour,  and  were  then 
marched  across  the  Jordan  river,  which  runs  by  the  city, 
and  is  much  used  for  baptismal  purposes.  We  encamped 
about  two  miles  up  the  river,  upon  an  exceedingly  barren 
spot,  almost  destitute  of  vegetation  ;  indeed,  there  was 
nothing  but  sage-brush  growing  there. 

Our  engineers  in  the  meantime  had  selected  a  spot  for 
permanent  location  in  Cedar  Valley,  about  fifty  miles  west 
of  Salt  Lake  City,  and  thither  we  started,  encamping  one 


IO6  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

night  by  the  warm  springs.  These  springs  are  great  curi- 
osities. There  are  three  in  a  direct  line,  and  only  a  few 
yards  apart.  The  holes  are  about  ten  feet  across,  and 
the  water  so  clear  that  one  can  see  down  quite  a  dis- 
tance ;  the  sides  appear  craggy  and  very  much  broken, 
as  if  at  some  time  they  might  have  been  volcanoes.  The 
water  at  the  top  was  quite  warm,  and  at  a  short  distance 
down  was  very  hot.  We  endeavored  to  ascertain  the 
depth  of  these  springs  by  tying  a  number  of  picket  ropes 
together,  attaching  a  piece  of  iron  and  sinking  it.  We 
lowered  away  until  the  rope — which  must  have  been 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  length — gave  out,  but  failed 
to  reach  bottom.  By  the  warmth  and  smell  of  the  iron, 
we  about  concluded  that  his  Satanic  Majesty's  dominion 
was  located  somewhere  near  the  bottom  of  this  remark- 
able freak  of  Nature.  The  water  from  these  springs 
forms  quite  a  brook,  and  we  availed  ourselves  of  the  ex- 
cellent opportunity  it  afforded  for  bathing  and  for  laun- 
dry purposes.  In  winter,  the  steam  arising  from  them 
can  be  distinctly  seen  for  twenty  miles. 

In  one  of  the  numbers  of  the  Deseret  News  ( a  Mor- 
mon paper,  published  in  Salt  Lake  City)  were  several 
speeches  made  by  the  leaders,  all  of  which  breathed 
forth  sentiments  teeming  with  war  to  the  knife.  Brigham 
said  he  "had  always  prophesied  that  there  was  a  time 
coming  when  the  cord  that  bound  the  Saints  to  the  world 
must  be  severed,  and  when  a  military  force  was  sent  to 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  107 


Utah  to  kill  him  and  his  people,  then  would  be  the  time 
to  cut  it." 

The  following  racy  specimen  of  pulpit  oratory  ema- 
nated from  the  fulminating  and  explosive  brain  of  that 
"  father  in  Israel,"  Brother  Heber  Kimball,  about  that 
time.  It  was  in  the  form  of  a  benediction  to  his  flock : 

"  May  the  Almighty  bless  you ;  may  the  peace  of  God  be  with 
you,  and  with  your  children,  and  with  your  children's  children  for- 
ever ;  and  may  God  Almighty  curse  our  enemies  !  (Voices, '  Amen  ! '} 
I  feel  to  curse  my  enemies ;  and  when  God  won't  bless  them,  I  do 
not  think  he  will  ask  me  to  bless  them.  If  I  did,  it  would  be  to  put 
the  poor  curses  to  death  who  have  brought  death  and  destruction  on 
me  and  my  brethren,  upon  my  wives  and  children  that  I  buried  on 
the  road  between  the  states  and  this  place. 

"  Did  I  ever  wrong  any  of  them  out  of  a  dime  ?  No ;  but  I  have 
fed  thousands  when  I  never  received  a  dime.  Poor  rotten  curses ! 
And  the  President  of  the  United  States,  inasmuch  as  he  has  turned 
against  us,  and  will  take  a  course  to  persist  in  pleasing  the  ungodly 
curses  that  are  howling  around  him  for  the  destruction  of  this  people, 
he  shall  be  cursed  in  the  name  of  Israel's  God ;  and  I  curse  him,  and 
all  his  coadjutors  in  their  deeds,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  by 
the  authority  of  the  holy  priesthood,  and  all  Israel  shall  say  '  Amen  !  * 

"  Send  2,500  troops  here,  my  brethren,  to  make  a  desolation  of  this 
people  !  God  Almighty  helping  me,  I  will  fight  until  there  is  not  a 
drop  of  blood  in  my  veins.  Good  God!  I  have  wives  enough  to  whip 
out  the  United  States  !  Amen  !  " 


io8 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

FEW  days  after  leaving  the  city  we  met  a 
long  train,  coming,  as  we  supposed,  from 
California,  but,  upon  inquiry,  we  ascertained 
they  were  residents  of  Salt  Lake  City,  just 
returning,  having  recovered  from  their 
fright.  They  numbered  more  than  a  thousand,  and  were 
wretched-looking  beings, — men,  women,  boys,  and  girls, 
old  and  young,  halt  and  blind,  without  shoes  or  stockings, 
ragged  and  dirty,  though  some  of  the  young  girls  had  en- 
deavored to  make  as  respectable  an  appearance  as  possi- 
ble, by  making  garments  out  of  corn  sacks.  They  were 
driving  a  number  of  animals,  consisting  of  cows,  sheep, 
and  pigs.  They  were  very  demure,  and  manifested  no 
resentment  at  our  jeers.  Occasionally,  some  bishop  or 
elder  would  pass,  riding  in  a  carry-all,  usually  with  four 
or  five  women,  doubtless  his  wives.  These  gentry  were 
subjects  of  special  attention  from  us,  and  many  ludicrous 
questions  were  asked  them,  such  as,  "  Say,  old  boy,  can't 
you  spare  one  or  two  of  those  women?"  "Say,  don't 
they  whip  you  sometimes  ? "  "  Do  you  all  sleep  in  one 
bed  ? "  etc.  I  think  they  must  have  felt  relieved  after 
getting  clear  of  us. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  1 09 


What  humiliation  this  must  have  been  to  these  poor 
deluded  mortals,  who  but  a  short  time  before  h*?.d  listened 
to  their  leaders  as  they  hurled  defiance  at  the  government, 
predicting  defeat  and  destruction  to  our  army,  declaring 
it  never  should  enter  the  sacred  city,  but  who,  at  our 
approach,  had  fled  to  the  mountains  and  caves,  and  now 
were  returning  in  poverty  to  their  homes,  sadder  and, 
doubtless,  wiser. 

We  halted  at  Cedar  Valley,  about  twenty  miles  west  of 
Utah  Lake,  and  here  established  Camp  Floyd,  named 
for  Mr.  Floyd,  then  secretary  of  war.  Mormon  mechan- 
ics were  employed  to  erect  houses  for  us,  which  were 
built  of  adobe,  and  by  fall  we  had  quite  comfortable 
quarters. 

This  was  a  very  pretty  valley,  surrounded  by  high 
mountains,  many  with  snow  upon  them  the  year  around. 
The  wood  for  our  fires  consisted  chiefly  of  cedar,  which 
was  hauled  from  the  mountains.  It  made  excellent  fuel, 
although  the  odor  from  the  smoke  was  anything  but 
pleasant.  The  soil  was  very  light,  and  by  the  continued 
travel  of  men  and  wagons,  particularly  during  the  dry 
season,  the  dust  in  places  would  be  half-way  to  the  knees. 
This  valley  was  noted  for  its  frequent  and  violent  whirl- 
winds ;  sometimes  six  or  seven  were  seen  in  different 
directions  at  one  time ;  occasionally  a  large  one,  covering 
four  or  five  acres,  would  rush  through  the  camp.  All 
hands  would  hasten  into  the  houses  and  close  the  doors, 
for  if  we  failed  to  do  this,  we  would  be  almost  strangled 


110  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

before  it  passed.  Sometimes  a  washerwoman  would  not 
have  time  to  get  her  clothes  from  the  line,  and  in  an 
instant  all  would  be  high  up  in  the  air,  whirling  around 
at  an  enormous  speed. 

Soldiers,  like  other  people,  have  their  pets ;  one  com- 
pany had  a  wolf,  another  a  fox,  while  the  band  had  a 
grizzly  bear,  an  eagle,  and  a  large  dog.  The  bear  we 
obtained  while  young,  and  kept  him  until,  from  the  men 
annoying  him  so  much,  he  became  so  cross  and  ugly  that 
we  had  to  kill  him.  Our  American  eagle  suddenly 
disappeared,  disgusted,  without  doubt,  with  Mormonism ; 
while  our  dog,  Jack,  whom  we  obtained  from  the  Mor- 
mons, could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  leave  the  saints. 

About  a  mile  from  camp  was  a  small  settlement  called 
Adobe  town,  which,  soon  after  our  arrival,  became  quite 
notorious.  Gamblers  and  other  disreputable  characters 
flocked  there  from  California,  so  that  in  a  short  time  it 
was  a  regular  gambling  hell.  Almost  every  house  had 
its  gambling  paraphernalia.  At  one  part  of  the  room 
would  sit  an  ugly-looking  individual,  with  a  pile  of  gold, 
a  wheel,  a  decks  of  cards,  and  in  his  hand  a  revolver, 
waiting  for  a  victim.  Murders  were  quite  frequent; 
scarcely  a  night  passed  but  some  one  was  killed,  and 
generally  a  soldier. 

In  the  winter  of  1858,  six  of  us,  who  constituted  the 
quadrille  band,  obtained  a  week's  furlough,  to  spend 
Christmas  at  Battle  Creek,  a  Mormon  settlement,  about 
twenty-five  miles  from  camp,  where  we  had  been  invited. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  Ill 


We  were  kindly  welcomed  upon  our  arrival,  and  quar- 
tered in  a  comfortable  hotel,  kept  by  an  Englishman.  On 
Christmas  eve  we  serenaded  the  principal  men  of  the 
town,  and  at  its  close  received  a  cordial  invitation  to  take 
Christmas  dinner  with  the  councilor.  An  occurrence  at 
the  table  afforded  us  no  little  amusement.  Their  houses 
are  small,  one-story  buildings,  with  thick,  thatched  roofs, 
and  while  eating  dinner,  which  was  served  in  a  graceful 
and  cheerful  manner  by  his  five  better  halves,  a  young 
mouse,  apparently  just  born,  fell  from  the  straw  roof  di- 
rectly upon  my  plate.  I  immediately  ran  my  fork  through 
it,  and  holding  it  up,  informed  our  Mormon  hosts  that  I 
was  not  quite  ready  for  dessert.  The  councilor  smiled, 
and  replied  that  such  occurrences  were  frequent,  and 
that  it  was  utterly  impossible  to  keep  the  mice  out  of 
the  roofs. 

We  visited  the  school-house,  where  were  assembled 
scholars  of  all  ages,  striving  to  acquire  a  little  educa- 
tion, of  which  most  of  them  were  sadly  deficient.  At  the 
hotel  I  was  mentioning  a  young  girl,  about  sixteen,  and 
extolling  her  general  appearance,  when  the  landlord  in- 
quired of  whom  I  was  speaking.  I  told  him  her  name, 
when  he  informed  me  that  I  must  keep  away  from 
her,  if  I  did  not  want  the  "destroying  angels"  around, 
as  she  was  the  sealed  wife  of  an  old  Mormon,  about 
seventy  years  old.  My  sentiments,  after  this  informa- 
tion, were  kept  pretty  closely  sealed. 

Although  the  credit  of  the   Mormons    did   not  stand 


112  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


very  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  Gentiles,  I  can  truth- 
fully say  that  I  never  enjoyed  a  week  better  in  my  life. 
The  people  of  Battle  Creek  were  kind  and  hospitable, 
and  strived  to  make  it  pleasant  and  enjoyable  for  us. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1859  we  had  quite  an  exciting 
time.  The  valley  adjoining  the  one  in  which  we  were, 
was  included  in  the  government  reserve,  and  a  guard, 
consisting  of  a  lieutenant,  sergeant,  and  six  men,  was 
stationed  there  to  protect  it.  The  Mormons  came,  as. 
was  their  custom,  to  cut  the  grass,  and  were  ordered 
away,  but  they  insolently  refused  to  go,  and  threatened 
to  run  the  sentinel  through  with  a  pitchfork,  whereupon 
the  sergeant,  a  New  Hampshire  boy  named  Pike,  struck 
the  assailant  down  with  his  rifle.  In  the  autumn  Pike  was 
summoned  to  appear  before  the  court  at  Salt  Lake  City, 
to  answer  to  the  charge  of  assault  with  intent  to  kill. 

The  guard  started  one  morning,  and  upon  entering  the 
city  a  mob  of  Mormons  rushed  upon  them  and  shot  the 
sergeant  through  the  lungs,  so  that  he  died  the  next  day. 
This  brutal  murder  of  a  United  States  soldier  in  broad 
daylight  was  perpetrated  within  a  short  distance  of  Gov- 
ernor Cumming's  residence,  and  not  a  hand  did  he  raise 
to  punish  the  villain  who  committed  the  foul  deed. 

This  last  example  of  our  governor's  perfidy  nearly 
caused  a  mutiny.  The  men  held  secret  meetings,  and 
arrangements  were  made  to  start  immediately  for  Salt 
Lake  City  and  destroy  the  whole  place.  It  was  quite 
an  undertaking,  as  it  was  about  fifty  miles'  travel,  but  it 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  113 


would  have  been  carried  out,  had  not  some  miscreant  ex- 
posed the  plan  to  an  officer.  We  were  ordered  not  to 
leave  our  quarters  after  dark ;  the  guard  was  doubled, 
and  the  officers  kept  close  watch  over  us.  The  next 
night  a  party  started  out  to  a  small  village  about  three 
miles  from  camp,  and  burned  all  the  houses  and  hay- 
stacks that  could  be  found,  and  that  ended  the  affair. 

We  had  all  sorts  of  amusements  in  camp — two  thea- 
tres, one  English  and  one  German,  minstrels,  etc.,  so 
the  time  passed  pleasantly  away. 

My  term  of  enlistment  being  near  its  close,  expiring 
October  14,  1858,  I  secured  a  two  months'  furlough, 
and  obtained  of  the  sutler  a  situation  taking  charge  of 
a  bowling-alley,  where  I  remained  through  the  fall  and 
winter. 

NOTE. — I  would  mention  here,  that  at  the  celebration  of  the  one  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  Va., 
held  in  October,  1881,  the  Third  Regiment  band,  of  the  New  Hampshire  Na- 
tional Guard,  of  which  I  was  then  a  member,  was  present  and  participated  in 
the  ceremonies.  Among  the  troops  gathered,  from  all  parts  of  the  countryr 
on  that  historic  ground,  I  found  the  Tenth  United  States  Regulars,  my  old 
regiment,  which  I  had  not  seen  for  twenty-one  years.  I  went  through  the 
tents,  thinking  I  might  see  some  of  my  old  comrades.  After  a  long  and 
thorough  search,  I  found  in  all  the  regiment  but  two  men  who  belonged  to  it 
at  the  time  of  my  discharge — one  an  orderly  sergeant,  the  other  a  gray- 
bearded  Irishman,  still  a  private.  With  these  two,  and  others  who  claimed 
acquaintance  on  the  score  of  belonging  to  the  "  Old  Tenth,"  an  hour  was 
pleasantly  spent  in  reminiscences  of  the  old  times. 


114  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN, 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

|ARLY  in  the  spring  of  1860,  eleven  of  us, 
discharged  soldiers,  made  preparations  for 
returning  to  the  states.  We  purchased  five 
pairs  of  oxen  and  a  wagon,  and  started 
by  a  different  route  from  that  which  we 
came,  going  by  way  of  Prove  Canon.  Our  oxen  were  not 
paired  right,  and  as  none  of  us  were  accustomed  to  driv- 
ing such  animals,  it  was  amusing  to  see  our  management. 
We  fastened  a  rope  to  the  horns  of  the  leaders,  and  in 
crossing  streams  we  would  wade  through,  and  haul  the 
animals  after  us.  We  adopted  this  method  because 
the  animals  invariably  wanted  to  travel  up  stream,  and 
frequently  got  us  into  awkward  predicaments  on  that 
account. 

Shortly  after  we  had  started,  a  Mormon  and  his  wife, 
with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  wagon,  asked  permission  to 
travel  with  us.  They  were  anxious  to  leave  Utah,  and 
did  not  consider  it  safe  to  go  alone,  as  Brigham  Young 
had  issued  an  order  forbidding  any  of  his  followers  to 
leave  the  valley,  except  by  an  order  signed  by  himself. 
We  willingly  assented,  and  they  kept  with  us  for  several 
days ;  but  one  morning  we  started  earlier  than  usual, 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


and  got  quite  a  distance  ahead.  Not  seeing  them, 
we  halted,  and  as  they  did  not  make  their  appearance, 
we  went  back,  but  found  no  traces  of  them.  As  we  did 
not  see  them  again,  we  felt  sure  that  they  had  shared  the 
fate  of  many  others  who  had  attempted  the  same  thing. 

Two  of  us  bought  Indian  ponies,  and  usually  rode 
some  distance  ahead  of  the  wagon.  On  one  occasion, 
a  few  miles  from  Green  river,  we  met  an  Indian  and  an 
Irishman ;  the  latter  had  taken  a  squaw  for  his  wife,  and 
had  become  one  of  the  tribe.  They  were  both  very  much 
under  the  influence  of  "  fire-water,"  and  each  had  a  bot- 
tle of  whiskey  and  a  knife,  which  they  flourished  about  in 
a  decidedly  careless  manner.  As  we  came  up,  they  seized 
our  horses,  and  insisted  that  we  drink  with  them,  which 
we  reluctantly  consented  to  do,  merely  putting  the  bottle 
to  our  lips.  We  then  attempted  to  pass  on,  but  they  still 
clung  to  our  bridles,  and  every  few  minutes  the  bottle 
would  be  passed  to  us,  and  if  we  refused  to  indulge,  their 
knives  would  be  brandished  about  the  heads  of  our  ponies. 
They  kept  us  there  about  half  an  hour,  much  to  our  dis- 
comfort, but  at  last  I  gave  a  signal,  and  we  put  spurs  to 
our  ponies,  and  abruptly  left  them  to  their  wild  carousal. 

We  halted  one  night  at  a  small  stream  called  Little 
Sandy,  which  derived  its  name,  I  suppose,  from  the  large 
amount  of  sand  in  its  vicinity.  .After  picketing  our  an- 
imals for  the  night,  and  about  eating  supper,  my  pony, 
which  had  served  me  so  well  and  so  faithfully  that  I  had 
come  to  regard  him  as  almost  my  best  friend,  was  seen 


Il6  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

to  give  a  jump  and  gallop  off  across  the  prairie,  dragging 
his  picket  rope.  Instantly  it  flashed  upon  me  that  it 
was  of  no  use  to  follow  him*  for  I  felt  sure  there  were 
Indians  around,  and  that  if  I  attempted  to  go  after  him,  it 
would  be  at  the  risk  of  getting  an  arrow  through  my  body. 

Two  days  later,  as  we  were  preparing  dinner,  three 
Indians  came  along,  leading  some  ponies,  and  among 
them  I  recognized  my  little  friend.  Drawing  my  revol- 
ver, I  rushed  out,  and,  pointing  it  at  them,  demanded  my 
property.  To  this  they  demurred,  giving  me  to  under- 
stand, by  their  signs  and  gibberish,  that  they  had  found 
it,  and  that  I  must  pay  them  for  their  trouble,  or  "  no 
pony."  I  could  not  see  it  in  that  way,  and  seized  my 
horse  and  led  him  away  amid  their  excited  threats. 

The  next  day  we  came  to  an  encampment  of  half- 
starved  and  savage-looking  Indians,  who  had  not  yet  left 
their  winter  quarters.  Among  them  were  our  friends  of 
the  day  before.  From  their  gestures,  we  judged  they 
were  busy  explaining  our  ill  treatment  of  them,  and  urg- 
ing the  tribe  to  aid  them  in  avenging  the  insult.  We 
realized  that  danger  was  threatening  us,  and  felt  no  little 
uneasiness  as  to  the  result.  I  was  blamed  somewhat  for 
being  so  hasty  and  impulsive  in  taking  the  pony.  But 
talk  availed  nothing,  we  had  got  to  act,  and  that  speedily. 
The  rain  was  pouring  down,  and  darkness  was  fast  set- 
tling upon  us.  We  fastened  our  oxen  to  the  wagon, 
carefully  keeping  in  sight  our  arms,  which  consisted  of 
a  double-barreled  gun  and  a  large  navy  revolver  to  each 


REMIiVISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  117 

man.  When  darkness  came  on,  we  could  hear  them  mov- 
ing around,  endeavoring  to  steal  our  animals*,  but  they 
found  us  prepared  for  every  movement,  and,  in  dis- 
gust, would  let  fly  a  few  arrows  and  quickly  withdraw, 
not  relishing  the  noise  of  our  bullets  as  they  whistled 
about  them  ;  and  so  it  continued  all  through  the  night. 
They  had  not  the  courage  to  come  out  and  boldly  attack 
us,  for  they  knew  we  were  soldiers,  who  were  well  versed 
in  their  method  of  fighting,  and  well  prepared  to  receive 
any  and  all  attacks.  Some  of  the  oxen  were  slightly 
wounded,  but  none  of  the  men.  How  many  of  the  In- 
dians were  hit  we  could  not  tell,  but  were  well  satisfied 
that  all  of  our  ammunition  had  not  been  wasted. 

The  next  morning,  the  Indians  were  seen  in  the  dis- 
tance, apparently  holding  a  council  of  war.  There  ap- 
peared to  be  a  difference  of  opinion,  as  most  of  them 
returned  to  their  wigwams,  while  the  remainder  started  in 
the  direction  we  were  traveling.  We  made  a  long  march, 
of  some  thirty  miles,  without  any  trouble,  though  for  the 
first  few  miles  we  occasionally  caught  a  glimpse  of  them, 
but  they  finally,  as  we  thought,  gave  up  the  chase. 

It  came  to  my  turn  to  herd  the  oxen  the  latter  part  of 
this  night,  going  on  at  midnight  and  remaining  till  day- 
light. The  animals  appeared  more  restless  than  usual, 
and  for  a  time  kept  me  quite  busy,  but  between  three  and 
four  they  settled  down,  and  everything  was  quiet.  The 
moon,  which  was  on  its  last  half,  shone  through  the  trees 
that  grew  in  spots  along  the  stream,  and  had  begun  to 
pale  before  the  first  streaks  of  dawn ;  while  standing, 


Il8  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

pondering  over  our  last  day's  adventure,  I  was  startled 
by  a  light  rustling  of  the  leaves.  After  listening  and 
peering  into  the  bushes  for  a  few  moments,  and  hearing 
no  noise,  I  concluded  it  must  be  some  animal,  a  disturb- 
ance which  had  startled  me  before,  so  I  slowly  walked 
along,  when  suddenly,  without  the  least  warning,  a  big 
Indian  sprang  from  the  bushes  a  few  yards  in  front  of 
me.  The  fright,  coming  so  sudden,  slightly  bewildered 
me,  but  instantly  recovering,  I  fired  at  him.  He  darted 
back,  and  I  fled  toward  the  wagon,  which  was  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  the  Indians  yelling  and  run- 
ning after  me.  My  comrades,  hearing  my  shot,  were 
out  instantly.  We  got  behind  our  wagon  and  fired 
at  them  through  the  wheels,  while  their  arrows  flew  all 
about  us.  It  was  getting  light,  and  we  could  see  that 
there  were  but  few  of  them.  Two  of  the  savages  were 
endeavoring  to  drive  off  our  oxen,  while  the  rest  kept  up  an 
incessant  firing  of  arrows,  thinking  to  divert  our  attention 
from  the  animals.  We  knew  that  if  we  lost  our  oxen 
it  would  be  difficult  to  travel,  and  we  should  have  to 
endure  many  hardships ;  so  after  loading  our  pieces  all 
around,  we  made  a  grand  charge,  drove  them  across  the 
river,  and  recovered  all  of  our  oxen  but  one,  which  they 
had  shot.  Several  had  narrow  escapes,  but  with  the 
exception  of  a  somewhat  battered  wagon,  and  the  loss 
of  one  ox,  we  passed  safely  through  it.  Not  so  with 
our  enemies,  two  of  whom  could  be  seen  stretched  upon 
the  ground.  We  left  the  spot  as  soon  as  possible,  and 
had  no  more  trouble  with  them. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  119 


CHAPTER  XX. 

S  was  inevitable,  even  in  our  small  company 
of  men,  there  were  some  "black  sheep," 
and  occasionally  their  misdemeanors  were 
of  such  a  nature  that  we  had  to  deal  with 
them  in  a  somewhat  summary  manner. 
Shortly  after  our  Indian  trouble,  two  of  our  men  deserted 
us  one  night,  appropriating  two  ponies,  with  saddles,  one 
of  the  latter  articles  belonging  to  me.  So  enraged  were 
we  by  this  proceeding,  that  we  determined  to  follow 
and  capture  them  if  possible.  Early  in  the  morning  four 
of  us,  well  mounted  and  armed,  started  in  pursuit.  After 
riding  all  day  and  night,  with  but  two  or  three  hours'  rest, 
we  at  last  heard  of  their  whereabouts  from  a  party  of 
emigrants,  who  had  met  them  some  distance  back.  We 
laid  over  a  good  portion  of  the  second  day,  to  refresh 
our  horses,  which  had  become  very  much  exhausted,  and 
started  again  about  sunset,  traveling  at  a  swift  pace 
through  the  entire  night.  About  five  in  the  morning,  we 
came  to  a  ranch  kept  by  a  Frenchman,  who,  upon  learn- 
ing our  errand,  told  us  that  the  men  we  sought  were 
within.  It  was  a  highly  exciting  scene  as  we  rushed 
upon  them  in  their  fancied  security,  and,  with  pistols 


I2O  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

pointed  directly  at  their  heads,  threatened  if  they  moved 
to  shoot  them  like  dogs.  We  secured  their  weapons 
and  tied  their  hands  behind  them,  and,  after  settling  with 
the  Frenchman,  started  back  with  our  captives  to  rejoin 
our  party.  Late  in  the  night  we  came  to  the  encamp- 
ment, and  were  greeted  with  cheers.  We  had  no  sleep 
that  night,  and  early  the  next  morning  we  held  a  court 
martial;  I  had  the  honor  of  acting  as  judge.  I  suppose, 
strictly  speaking,  that,  being  an  interested  party,  I  ought 
not  to  have  had  anything  to  do  with  the  case,  except  as 
a  witness ;  but  it  was  unanimously  decided,  that,  accord- 
ding  to  lynch  law,  my  decision  would  be  considered 
good.  So  the  court  was  held  ;  the  prisoners  had  nothing 
to  say  in  extenuation  of  their  guilt,  but  were  insolent  and 
abusive.  After  the  testimony  was  all  in,  and  mature 
deliberation  given,  they  were  pronounced  guilty.  It  now 
only  remained  for  the  judge  to  pass  sentence,  which  was 
done  in  the  following  words :  "  George  Haversand  and 
William  Wright,  you  have  been  tried  by  this  court,  com- 
posed of  men  formerly  your  comrades, — men  who  trusted 
you,  and  who  would  have  staked  their  lives  in  your  de- 
fense;  but  you  proved  recreant  to  that  trust,  and  in  the 
dark  hours  of  night  sneaked  away,  stealing  the  property 
of  those  who  were  your  best  friends ;  and  this  court  does 
therefore  sentence  you  to  be  hanged  by  the  neck  till  you 
are  dead,  that  cards  be  attached  to  your  bodies  with  the 
words,  'horse  thieves'  written  upon  them,  and  there  you 
be  left  to  hang  as  a  warning  to  all  such  offenders."  There 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  121 

were  no  trees  in  the  vicinity,  so  it  was  decided  to  take  the 
first  one  we  came  to. 

Some  will  doubtless  condemn  so  severe  a  sentence, 
but  from  the  circumstances  of  the  case  I  felt  justified  in 
imposing  it,  and  I  had  the  unanimous  support  of  the 
rest  of  the  party,  whose  wrath  could  not  have  been  ap- 
peased with  anything  short  of  hanging  the  miscreants. 

Their  hands  and  feet  were  tied,  and  two  men  were  sta- 
tioned over  them  through  the  night,  but  the  next  morning 
they  were  missing.  No  doubt  some  of  the  men  could 
have  told  just  where  to  find  them ;  but  no  questions 
were  asked.  I  felt  very  much  relieved  that  there  was 
no  need  of  carrying  out  my  sentence. 

We  were  now  traveling  in  a  fine  section  of  country, 
where  grass  was  abundant,  so  that  our  animals  improved 
daily,  and  we  were  able  to  make  long  marches.  At  Fort 
Laramie  we  obtained  supplies,  and  also  at  Fort  Kearney. 
Here  we  met  Colonel  Alexander,  who  had  been  on  leave 
of  absence,  and  was  now  returning,  with  his  family,  to  his 
regiment.  He  was  pleased  to  see  us,  but  expressed  sor- 
row at  losing  so  many  of  his  musicians,  and  offered  us 
every  inducement  to  re-enlist.  No  offer  could  be  made 
sufficient  to  induce  us  to  enlist  for  another  term  of  five 
years  until  we  had  at  least  seen  a  little  civilization,  and 
experienced  some  of  its  demoralizing  influences.  The 
supplies  we  got  here  lasted  us  to  Nebraska  City,  where 
we  arrived  about  the  first  of  July,  1860.  This  was  a  very 
pleasant  border  town,  containing  about  two  thousand 


122  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

inhabitants.  Waltz,  Stark,  and  myself  stopped  here.  We 
took  charge  of  a  brass  band  that  had  but  recently  lost 
its  leader,  formed  an  orchestra  for  balls,  parties,  etc.,  and 
soon  did  a  thriving  business. 

In  the  fall  the  Oto  Indians  left  their  reserve  and  came  to 
the  city,  demanding  their  annuities,  which  were  due  them 
from  the  government,  but  for  some  unknown  reason  had 
been  withheld  from  them  by  the  agent.  They  surrounded 
his  house,  declaring  that  unless  they  were  immediately 
paid  they  would  burn  it  down.  He  insolently  refused^ 
and  ordered  them  back  to  the  reserve.  The  citizens  were 
greatly  alarmed,  and  gathered  in  the  town  hall  and  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  wait  upon  the  agent.  They 
advised  him  to  settle  with  the  Indians,  as  he  not  only 
endangered  himself  and  his  property,  but  all  the  rest  of 
the  city  as  well.  He  flatly  refused  to  do  so,  and  told 
them  to  go  about  their  business.  The  Indians  broke  into 
his  house,  seized  him,  and  put  a  rope  around  his  neck 
and  dragged  him  through  the  street  to  the  hall,  where  the 
citizens  had  congregated,  and  insisted  upon  giving  him 
a  hearing.  It  was  decided  that  he  must  make  satisfac- 
tory terms  to  the  Indians  or  be  turned  over  to  them  and 
allow  them  to  make  their  own  terms.  After  a  great 
deal  of  talk,  and  many  threats  by  the  Indians,  he  agreed 
to  deposit  the  boxes  containing  the  money  in  the  bank 
for  the  night,  and  in  the  morning,  if  a  sufficient  number 
of  the  citizens  would  accompany  him,  proceed  to  the 
reserve  and  pay  all  that  was  justly  due  them.  To  this 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  1 23 

they  agreed,  and  so  matters  rested.  The  Indians  kept  a 
close  watch  around  his  house  all  night,  and  many  of  the 
citizens  walked  the  streets.  Early  in  the  morning  it  was 
discovered  that  the  agent  had,  notwithstanding  their  vigi- 
lance, stolen  away  and  taken  with  him  all  the  money,  for 
on  repairing  to  the  bank,  the  boxes  were  found  to  con- 
tain nothing  but  sand.  Upon  this  discovery,  the  Indians 
became  very  much  excited,  and  made  violent  threats,  to 
the  great  alarm  of  the  citizens,  who  immediately  tele- 
graphed to  an  agent  at  St.  Louis,  and  requested  assist- 
ance. He  at  once  ordered  the  city  authorities  to  pur- 
chase three  wagon  loads  of  supplies  and  send  them  and 
the  Indians  to  the  reserve,  which  was  quickly  complied 
with,  as  the  citizens  were  only  too  glad  to  be  rid  of  such 
unwelcome  visitors. 

In  the  autumn  Waltz  left  us.  Stark  remained  with  me 
until  spring.  He  had  been  away  from  home  eight  years, 
and  had  not  heard  from,  or  written  to,  his  friends  during 
that  time.  At  my  advice,  he  wrote  a  letter  home,  which  was 
a  great  surprise  to  his  parents,  who  had  long  given  him 
up  as  dead.  He  received  two  letters  from  home,  the  last 
one  notifying  him  of  his  father's  death,  and  desiring  him 
to  return  to  New  Hampshire  immediately. 

I  was  now  by  myself  again,  but  was  in  far  better  cir- 
cumstances than  when  in  New  York.  I  had  now  no  need 
to  search  for  bakers'  carts  to  sleep  in  or  to  depend  on 
apples  for  subsistence. 

The  secession  movement  had  broken  out,  and  it  affected 


124  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

this  territorial  border  town  quite  seriously,  as  there  were 
many  Southerners  residing  here  with  their  slaves.  One 
morning  we  were  surprised  to  see  floating  from  the  top  of 
an  old  block  house,  which  was  used  as  a  jail,  a  Palmetto 
flag.  The  unionists  collected,  and,  with  rocks,  soon 
brought  it  down.  They  made  an  effigy  of  Jeff  Davis? 
wrapped  the  flag  around  it,  and  hung  it  out  of  the  win- 
dow, with  a  placard  attached  to  it  on  which  was  inscribed, 
"  Death  to  Traitors,"  and  there  it  hung  all  day. 

Stark  corresponded  with  me,  and  in  all  his  letters  made 
urgent  requests  for  me  to  come  to  New  Hampshire.  I 
was  advised  by  friends  in  Nebraska  not  to  go  there,  for 
they  said  that  the  state  was  all  rocks ;  but  the  glowing 
accounts  Stark  gave  of  it,  and  the  way  he  had  always 
spoken  of  the  old  Granite  State,  had  considerable  weight 
with  me.  So  one  fine  May  morning  I  took  a  boat  bound 
for  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  that  being  the  nearest  place  to  the 
railroad,  and  reached  there  in  the  evening.  After  supper 
I  strolled  about  the  city,  and  finally  entered  a  concert  hall. 
The  entertainment  was  quite  good,  especially  the  sing- 
ing. Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  performance  a  lady 
-came  upon  the  stage  with  a  small  American  flag  in  each 
hand,  and  commenced  singing  the  "  Star-Spangled  Ban- 
ner." In  an  instant  the  whole  house  was  in  an  uproar, 
the  secessionists  hissing,  and  the  unionists  cheering. 
I  joined  with  the  latter  party,  and  in  my  enthusiasm, 
which,  perhaps,  was  a  little  boisterous,  disturbed  a  fellow 
sitting  near  me,  who,  evidently,  was  a  bitter  rebel,  for  he 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  125 


seized  my  coat  and  attempted  to  pull  me  down.  I  advised 
him  not  to  do  it  again,  informing  him  that  I  had  served 
under  that  flag  for  five  years,  had  been  supported  by  it, 
and  intended  to  stick  by  it  and  shout  for  it  as  much  as  I 
pleased,  whether  he  liked  it.  or  not.  He,  with  some  of 
his  secessionist  friends,  sprang  at  me,  while  several  union 
men,  mostly  Germans,  came  to  my  aid,  and  in  a  short 
time  the  row  became  general  throughout  the  hall.  The 
policeman  came  in,  and,  by  Herculean  efforts,  succeeded 
in  restoring  order.  The  performance,  however,  was  brought 
to  a  close,  and  I  wended  my  way  back  to  the  hotel,  though 
not  in  quite  as  good  order  as  when  I  left  it, — certainly  not 
in  mind,  for  it  seemed  strange  that  my  first  night's  experi- 
ence in  a  state  where  I  expected  refinement  and  patriot- 
ism, should  come  to  such  an  inglorious  ending, — that  Iy 
a  foreigner,  should  be  grossly  insulted  by  American-born 
citizens  for  cheering  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 


126  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

HE  next  morning  I  resumed  my  journey  east, 
over  the  Hannibal  railroad,  where  but  a  few 
days  later  many  lives  were  sacrificed  by  the 
secessionists,  who  placed  ties  on  the  track, 
and  threw  the  train  from  a  bridge.  After 
traveling  three  days  and  nights,  I  finally  reached  Con- 
cord, New  Hampshire,  the  city  I  had  heard  lauded  so 
highly.  It  was  raining  hard  when  I  arrived,  and  as  I  did 
not  have  Stark's  address,  I  knew  not  where  to  go.  But 
fortune  favored  me ;  I  met  a  man  near  the  station  who 
was  well  acquainted  with  the  family,  and  directed  me  to 
their  residence,  which  was  some  two  miles  distant.  Upon 
my  arrival  there,  I  found  it  a  very  commodious  farm-house, 
with  about  seventy  acres  of  land,  and  I  was  kindly  wel- 
comed by  my  old  comrade  Joe,  and  his  family. 

Now  farming  was  an  occupation  of  which  I  was  en- 
tirely ignorant,  and  the  neighboring  people  evidently  con- 
sidered me  of  little  account,  since  I  did  not  even  know 
how  to  plant  a  potato.  They  insisted  that  all  our  great  men, 
from  Daniel  Webster  down,  had  obtained  their  start  in 
life  from  the  farm,  and  most  of  them  from  New  Hamp- 
shire soil.  Here  was  an  incentive  to  me  to  acquire  fame, 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  127 


particularly  as  Joe  was,  or  pretended  to  be,  well  versed 
in  agriculture,  and  could  instruct  me  in  all. its  various 
branches.  To  my  surprise,  however,  his  inclination  did 
not  appear  to  tend  that  way  ;  he  was  at  that  time  a  devo- 
tee of  the  violin,  and  spent  most  of  his  time  at  his  music. 
At  his  mother's  request  we  agreed  to  carry  on  the  farm 
for  the  summer.  Our  first  work  was  to  prepare  a  piece 
of  land  for  potatoes.  In  furrowing,  my  part  of  the 
work  was  to  lead  the  horse,  which,  by  the  way,  was  a 
large,  frisky  animal,  who  seemed  to  comprehend  my 
ignorance,  and  persisted  in  stepping  on  my  toes,  which 
materially  interfered  with  the  alignment,  so  that  the  fur- 
rows were  more  circular  than  straight.  We  let  it  pass, 
however,  as  we  believed  that  potatoes  would  grow  just 
as  well  in  crooked  rows  as  in  straight  ones.  I  did  not 
remain  there  to  see  the  harvesting,  but  it  must  have  been 
great,  as  we  made  it  a  point  to  put  two  of  the  largest 
potatoes  we  could  find  into  each  hill. 

Joe's  violin  interfered  materially  with  the  farm  work, 
and  it  was  with  considerable  difficulty  that  we  got  him 
into  the  field  at  all.  Our  next  undertaking  was  to  plant 
about  an  acre  of  corn.  After  we  had  got  the  piece  into 
very  poor  condition,  he  instructed  me  how  to  drop  the 
seed,  and  then  left,  promising,  after  I  had  dropped  a  few 
rows,  to  return  and  cover  it.  I  kept  busily  at  work  till 
nearly  noon,  when,  seeing  no  signs  of  Joe,  I  started  for 
the  house.  As  I  drew  near,  I  heard  the  strains  of  a 
violin,  which  was  being  played  with  vigor.  Joe  appeared 


128  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


greatly  surprised  at  seeing  me,  and  inquired  why  I  had 
left  my  work  so  soon,  and  said  he  was  just  getting  ready 
to  come  out.  He  finally  concluded  to  wait  till  after  din- 
ner, and  it  was  at  least  two  o'clock  before  we  returned 
to  the  field,  when,  to  our  dismay,  we  found  a  large  flock 
of  crows  diligently  at  work,  and  my  morning's  labor 
nearly  spoiled.  We  next  did  a  little  haying,  but  as  a 
mower,  I  confess  I  was  a  distinct  failure.  Still  I  attribute 
this  somewhat  to  the  scythe,  which  was  both  bent  and 
rusty,  and  looked  as  though  it  might  have  been  used  by 
Joe's  great-great-uncle,  Gen.  John  Stark.  By  this  time,  I 
had  become  completely  disgusted  with  farming,  and  left 
it,  regretting  my  inability  to  master  a  vocation  which  was 
said  to  be  so  essential  to  wealth  and  position  in  New 
England. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

HE  Rebellion  was  now  uppermost  in  every 
one's  mind.  In  the  blacksmith's  shop,  the 
grocery,  the  barber's  shop,  and  in  the  streets 
knots  of  men  were  gathered ;  and  in  every 
home  the  secession  question  was  the  all- 
absorbing  topic.  Young  men  and  even  school-boys,  with 
many  who  had  passed  the  prescribed  age  of  forty-five, 
were  tendering  their  services  to  the  Union  in  defense  of 
the  flag  which  had  so  recently  been  humiliated  at  Fort 
Sumter.  In  fact,  as  the  stay-at-homes  remarked,  it  re- 
quired less  courage  to  go  than  it  did  to  remain  at  home. 
It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  I  was  soon  as  enthusi- 
astic as  any.  To  my  surprise,  my  old  comrade,  Joe,  did 
not  seem  to  be  affected  at  all.  Whether  it  was  from  his 
political  opinions,  or  from  the  legacy  to  which  he  had  lately 
fallen  heir  upon  the  death  of  his  father,  I  know  not,  but  I 
think  it  was  due  to  the  latter,  as  he  shortly  after  mar- 
ried and  started  for  the  gold  regions  of  Washington  Ter- 
ritory, where  he  still  resides,  and  has  raised  up  a  large 
and  respected  family. 

From  the  time  of  my  arrival  in  New  Hampshire  I  had 
been  a  member  of  the  Concord  band.     Its  leader,  G.  W. 


130  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

Ingalls,  had  just  received  an  appointment  as  band-master, 
and  was  enlisting  musicians  for  the  Third  New  Hamp- 
shire. It  took  but  a  few  days  to  complete  the  required 
number  of  twenty-four.  No  persuasion  was  necessary 
to  induce  me  to  enroll  as  a  member  of  that  organization, 
and  on  August  26,  1861,  I  was  again  mustered,  as  a 
musician,  into  the  United  States  army. 

This  band  was  composed  chiefly  of  a  class  of  intelli- 
gent young  men,  good  citizens,  fine  mechanics,  and  excel- 
lent musicians,  so  that  in  a  short  time  it  was  second  to 
none  of  the  bands  sent  out  by  the  government.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  the  members  of  the  organization  : 

Gustavus  Ingalls,  band-master,  D.  Arthur  Brown,  Sam- 
uel F.  Brown,  Joseph  A.  Dadmun,  John  W.  Plummer, 
Carl  Krebs,  Henry  S.  Hamilton,  John  W.  Caswell,  Charles 
H.  White,  Phineas  Parkhurst,  James  A.  Baker,  L.  Henry 
Stark,  Francis  M.  Hughes,  Henry  F.  Brown,  Cyrus  E. 
Burnham,  John  C.  Linehan,  John  W.  Odlin,  Jacob  R.  San- 
born,  George  E.  Flanders,  John  C.  Mitchell,  George  L. 
Lovejoy,  Philip  Welcome,  Nathan  M.  Gove. 

We  were  provided  with  a  uniform  of  gray  cloth,  which, 
notwithstanding  its  Confederate  appearance,  was  of  good 
texture.  The  knapsacks  were  of  the  same  color,  while 
the  hats  were  of  a  sort  of  dark  pepper  and  salt  shade,  with 
a  fore-and-aft  peak.  The  latter  as  they  aged  persisted  in 
lopping,  sometimes  in  front,  and  then  again  behind,  and 
not  infrequently  both  front  and  behind,  so  that  really 
they  were  not  things  of  beauty  by  any  means. 


I 

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REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  131 

On  the  morning  of  September  3,  1861,  we  broke  camp 
at  Concord,  escorted  by  the  Home  Guard  and  Serenade 
band.  It  was  inspiring  to  witness  the  thousands  of  people, 
from  all  parts  of  the  state,  who  had  congregated  in  the 
streets  and  at  the  station, — parents,  wives,  sisters,  and 
sweethearts — crowding  for  a  last  kiss,  a  shake  of  the  hand, 
and,  with  tears  dimming  many  eyes,  a  last  fond  look  at 
loved  ones,  whom  they  might  never  (and  in  many  cases 
did  not)  see  again.  I  was  much  depressed  at  seeing  such 
expressions  of  affection,  for  I  knew  that  in  that  vast 
throng,  not  a  pang  and  scarcely  a  thought  was  for  me. 
Still  I  was  comforted  by  the  assurance  that  across  the 
ocean,  in  a  little  ivy-covered  cottage  by  the  sea,  a  fond 
mother  daily  prayed  for  the  safety  of  her  wandering  boy. 

As  the  cars  passed  out  of  the  depot,  the  cheers  that 
rang  out,  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs  and  hats,  mingled 
with  the  sweet  strains  of  "  Auld  Lang  Syne,"  by  the 
Concord  band,  and  the  response  by  our  band  of  "  Home 
Sweet  Home,"  was  an  impressive  scene,  and  one  never 
to  be  forgotten. 

We  were  greeted  with  cheers  all  along  our  route,  and 
at  stations  where  we  stopped  for  a  few  moments,  fruits, 
flowers,  cigars,  and  sweets  were  given  us,  usually  by  the 
ladies.  We  reached  Allyn's  Point,  Conn.,  in  the  evening, 
where  we  took  steamer  for  Hunter's  Point,  L.  I.  We 
reached  there  about  eight  o'clock  next  morning,  and  took 
cars  for  Minneola,  where  we  pitched  tents,  and,  from  the 
preparations,  it  appeared  as  if  we  had  come  to  stay. 


132  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

Guard  mounting,  drills,  parades,  and  even  prayer-meet- 
ings were  now  in  order.  Under  Colonel  Fellows  the 
regiment  made  rapid  progress  in  drill,  so  much  so  that  at 
Washington,  after  inspection  by  General  Sherman,  we 
took  first  position  in  the  brigade.  Not  only  were  we  pro- 
ficient in  drill,  but,  under  Chaplain  Hill,  also  in  morals, 
for  it  is  said,  though  questioned  by  some,  that  in  the  town 
our  men  sacked  a  rum  shop,  and  destroyed  all  the  liquor. 

General  Vielie  now  assumed  command,  and  named  the 
camp  "  Winfield  Scott."  It  consisted  of  the  Third  New 
Hampshire  and  Eighth  Maine  regiments. 

About  two  miles  distant  from  our  camp  was  the  pretty 
little  town  of  Hempstead,  and  frequent  visits  were  made 
by  both  officers  and  men.  Occasionally  the  band  would 
be  taken,  until  a  deep  friendship  was  manifested  by  the 
citizens  for  the  Third  New  Hampshire. 

One  morning,  while  out  on  drill,  an  order  came  to 
break  camp  and  proceed  immediately  to  Washington, 
the  officials  there  being  somewhat  alarmed  for  its  safety. 
The  command  was  given,  "  Double  quick  to  tents."  As 
quickly  as  possible  we  started  for  Hunter's  Point,  leaving 
tents  and  knapsacks  behind.  A  steamer  was  in  readi- 
ness, and  about  10  o'clock  p.  M.  we  started  for  Jersey 
City,  arriving  there  at  midnight,  and  taking  cars  for  Phila- 
delphia, reached  there  early  Sunday  morning.  We  were 
then  marched  to  the  Cooper  Shop  Volunteer  Refresh- 
ment saloon.  We  were  very  tired  and  hungry,  and  did 
ample  justice  to  the  excellent  breakfast  provided  by  the 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  133 

kind  people  of  Philadelphia.  We  remained  until  about 
six  in  the  evening,  mingling  and  conversing  with  the  citi- 
zens, who  showed  a  very  generous  spirit,  giving  us  fruit, 
candies,  and  cigars  in  great  abundance. 

From  the  time  we  left  Concord  until  we  reached  Mary- 
land, the  national  flag  was  seen  waving  from  every  avail- 
able spot ;  and  at  every  city,  town,  or  hamlet  the  citizens 
welcomed  us  with  warm  greetings  and  enthusiastic  cheers. 
How  marked  the  difference  as  we  entered  the  state  of 
Maryland  !  A  cloud  seemed  to  overshadow  it;  not  a  sign 
of  patriotism  was  visible;  the  American  flag  was  con- 
spicuous by  its  absence,  and  it  was  evident  that  disloyalty 
was  rampant  among  most  of  the  inhabitants. 

At  Baltimore  we  changed  cars,  and  had  a  long  march 
through  the  city.  Not  caring  to  be  taken  by  surprise,  as 
in  the  disastrous  march  of  the  Sixth  Massachusetts,  the 
men  loaded  their  pieces  before  leaving  the  cars.  As  we 
started,  playing  our  favorite  "  Camp  Quickstep,"  a  squad 
of  police,  reaching  across  the  street,  formed  in  our  front, 
for  what  purpose  I  know  not,  as  we  felt  prepared  for 
all  emergencies,  and  sufficiently  strong  to  dispense  with 
police  protection. 

It  was  near  10  o'clock  p.  M  before  we  started  for 
Washington.  We  reached  that  city  about  midnight,  and 
found  the  Stars  and  Stripes  floating  proudly  over  its  cap- 
itol.  We  remained  in  the  depot  until  daylight,  and  then 
were  marched  to  the  Soldiers'  Rest  for  breakfast.  After 
that  we  went  about  one  mile  east  of  the  capitol,  near  the 
Congressional  Cemetery,  and  established  camp. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


At  dress  parade  here  one  evening  President  Lincoln 
visited  us.  At  no  time  during  our  term  of  service  was 
"  Hail  to  the  Chief  "  played  with  more  feeling  and  spirit 
than  at  this  visit  from  our  commander-in-chief. 

A  few  days  after  our  arrival  we  were  visited  by  a  com- 
mittee, representing  the  ladies  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  of  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  who  presented  us  with 
a  beautiful  silken  flag.  Colonel  Fellows,  in  an  eloquent 

little  speech,  received  it  in  be- 
half of  the  regiment.  The  band 
played  the  "  Star-Spangled  Ban- 
ner," and  three  rousing  cheers 
were  given  for  the  ladies  of 
Long  Island  by  the  regiment. 

At  dress  parade  one  evening, 
while  trooping  down  the  line, 
Drum-Major  Wing  marched  into 
a  deep  mud-hole.  The  soil  was 
of  a  clayey,  sticky  nature,  and  in  extricating  himself  he 
went  through  a  great  many  undignified  gestures,  to  the 
great  amusement  of  both  regiment  and  spectators. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  October  4  we  struck  tents  and 
marched  to  the  depot,  where  we  were  closely  packed  into 
cattle  cars,  and  taken  to  Annapolis,  Md.  We  reached  there 
about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  were  quartered 
in  the  U.  S.  Naval  Academy.  We  were  given  nice  rooms, 
with  gas  and  all  modern  conveniences ;  still,  as  we  had 
but  one  blanket  apiece,  the  hard-wood  floors  were  not 
very  encouraging  for  sound,  refreshing  sleep. 


E.  Q.  Fellows. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  135 

We  remained  here  but  three  days,  and  then  pitched  our 
tents  about  half  a  mile  from  the  academy,  .on  the  bank 
of  the  river  Severn. 

Our  first  night  here  was  anything  but  agreeable,  for 
shortly  after  tattoo  it  commenced  raining,  and  before 
morning  we  had  quite  a  storm.  Some  of  the  band  tents 
went  down,  while  others  were  completely  flooded.  In 
our  tent  we  were  more  fortunate,  as  my  regular  army  ex- 
perience helped  me  somewhat.  Just  before  retiring  I  cut 
a  trench  around  the  tent  and  drove  down  the  pins  tightly, 
so  that  no  rain  entered,  and  it  sheltered  some  of  the  less 
fortunate. 

One  evening  we  serenaded  Governor  Hicks,  and  were 
well  received,  refreshments  being  served.  The  next  day, 
while  on  parade,  Governor  Hicks  was  introduced,  and 
delivered  a  short,  patriotic  speech,  which  dispelled  all 
idea  of  his  being  in  sympathy  with  the  secession  move- 
ment, an  idea  which  had  been  widely  circulated  through- 
out the  country.  Three  rousing  cheers  were  given  him. 

A  battery  of  regulars  arrived,  under  command  of  Cap- 
tain Hamilton.  This  officer  was  not  only  a  namesake, 
but  also  an  old  friend  of  mine ;  he  was  first  lieutenant  of 
Sherman's  battery,  stationed  at  Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota, 
in  1855. 

Our  band  gained  quite  a  reputation  and  was  frequently 
called  upon  to  play  for  other  regiments.  The  Forty- 
sixth  New  York  was  presented  with  a  flag  by  the  ladies 
of  that  state,  and  engaged  our  band  for  the  occasion.  It 


136  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

was  a  very  enthusiastic  affair,  and  refreshments  of  all 
kinds  were  served. 

Our  brigade  was  now  complete,  consisting  of  the 
Third  New  Hampshire,  Eighth  Maine,  and  Forty-sixth, 
Forty-seventh,  and  Forty-eighth  New  York  regiments. 

Mrs.  Vielie,  wife  of  our  brigade  general,  gave  each 
regiment  in  the  brigade  a  flag,  which  was  presented  by 
Governor  Hicks  and  General  Duryea,  and  received  by 
the  several  colonels  with  appropriate  responses. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  137 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

E  struck  tents  October  18,  and  went  on  board 
the  steamer  Philadelphia,  which  carried  us 
about  two  miles  out  to  the  ocean  steamer 
Atlantic,  the  flag-ship  of  the  transports, 
and  headquarters  of  General  Sherman  and 
staff.  It  was  commanded  by  Captain  Eldridge,  a  thor- 
ough sailor  and  a  perfect  gentleman. 

Quarters  were  assigned  us  in  the  hold,  where  two-story 
bunks,  two  in  a  bunk,  were  provided.  As  there  were 
some  twelve  hundred  soldiers  on  board,  we  were  neces- 
sarily much  crowded,  which  made  the  air  very  impure 
and  caused  many  to  remain  on  deck  a  great  part  of  the 
night. 

Our  first  supper  on  board  was  very  late,  owing  to  the 
neglect  of  the  band  to  bring  tin  cups  along,  and  we 
had  to  wait  till  the  companies  were  through.  It  was  not 
a  very  sumptuous  repast, — a  piece  of  fat  pork,  a  slice 
of  bread,  with  a  cup  of  miserable  coffee.  With  wry 
faces  we  attempted  to  make  a  meal,  which,  in  most  cases, 
was  a  complete  failure.  To  me  it  was  not  a  surprise,  for 
I  had  many  times  before  experienced  similar  ordeals. 
After  waiting  several  days,  the  long-wished-for  order  to 


138  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

weigh  anchor  came  at  last.  As  we  got  out  a  stiff  breeze 
sprung  up,  which  caused  much  sea-sickness  among  the 
men.  Later,  a  heavy  fog  came  on,  which  necessitated  a 
lay-over  for  the  night.  Early  the  next  morning  we  started 
in  a  heavy  rain  and  a  rough  sea,  and  were  soon  anchored 
between  the  Rip-Raps  and  Fortress  Monroe. 

Large  bodies  move  slowly,  and  this  certainly  was  no 
exception,  for  it  seemed  as  if  we  never  should  get  started. 
We  had  now  been  aboard  about  ten  days,  and  it  became 
very  trying  to  a  majority  of  the  men,  who  had  never 
been  pent  up  on  shipboard  before,  and  knew  not  how 
best  to  care  for  themselves.  The  water,  as  well  as  the 
facilities  for  using  it,  was  very  limited,  and  it  was  not 
to  be  wondered  at  if  new  acquaintances  intruded  upon  us. 

It  was  a  busy  scene  around  the  fort ;  the  bay  was  cov- 
ered with  every  kind  of  craft, — the  stately  frigate  Wabash, 
numerous  gunboats,  side-wheeled  and  screw  ocean  steam- 
ers, ships,  barques,  brigs,  river  and  harbor  steamers  of 
all  sizes,  preparing  for  this  expedition,  the  destination  of 
which  to  nearly  every  one  was  unknown. 

At  last  the  flag  was  run  up  to  the  peak,  denoting  a 
start.  It  was  a  beautiful  day,  the  sea  perfectly  smooth, 
which  continued  until  we  passed  Hatteras,  when  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  third  day  a  terrible  storm  arose,  which 
increased  in  violence  hourly,  dispersing  the  fleet  in  every 
direction.  Some  went  back,  others  went  out  to  get  more 
sea  room,  while  a  few  outrode  the  storm  and  rendered 
assistance  to  those  disabled.  Among  the  latter  was  the 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  139 

Atlantic,  moving  in  all  directions,  now  hauling  a  gunboat, 
which  appeared  to  be  fast  drifting  ashore,  then  towing  the 
little  ferry-boat,  Mayflower,  from  the  breakers,  so  used  up 
that  little  was  left  but  her  hull,  and  continued  so  em- 
ployed until  darkness  set  in. 

In  the  hold  of  our  vessel  the  scene  was  appalling. 
The  band  bunks  were  next  to  the  hospital,  which  added 
more,  if  possible,  to  our  misery,  as  there  were  many  there 
suffering  from  disease.  One  poor  boy,  delirious  from 
a  raging  fever,  continually  called  for  his  mother,  until 
death  ended  his  sufferings,  just  before  morning. 

All  night  long  we  heard  the  shrieking  and  howling  of 
the  wind,  the  roaring  of  the  waves  as  they  dashed  against 
the  sides  of  the  heavy-laden  vessel, — which  caused  her  to 
tremble  and  roll,  so  that  it  was  with  difficulty  we  kept  in 
our  berths, — the  creaking  of  the  bunks,  the  clatter  of 
boxes  and  barrels  rolling  about,  and  the  incessant  rumbling 
and  jarring  of  the  machinery.  Amid  all  this  another  dis- 
turbance was  added  to  the  tumult,  that  of  a  rushing  of 
water  into  our  berths.  For  a  few  moments  the  excitement 
was  intense;  all  thought  we  were  sinking.  Some  were 
praying,  while  others  cursed  and  yelled.  We  breathed 
a  sigh  of  relief  on  ascertaining  the  cause  :  A  port-hole 
had  been  opened  by  some  one  to  get  a  breath  of  fresh 
air,  and  had  not  been  securely  fastened,  so  that  when  the 
vessel  gave  an  extra  lurch,  it  had  been  forced  open, 
allowing  an  immense  quantity  of  water  to  enter  our  berths. 

With  great  difficulty  the  next  morning  I  reached  the 


140  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

deck,  and,  although  grasping  tightly  the  ratlines,  I  could 
scarcely  keep  my  feet.  The  scene,  though  grand,  was 
appalling.  The  mountainous  waves  seemed  chasing  one 
another,  each  one  striving  to  outdo  its  leader.  Now  and 
then  one  more  boisterous  would  rush  over  the  bow,  fully 
bent  on  our  destruction,  but  the  stanch  old  vessel  re- 
sisted all  such  attacks,  and  carried  us  safely  through  the 
storm.  Some  vessels  could  be  seen  with  signals  of  dis- 
tress flying,  others  drifted  ashore  and  were  taken  by  the 
rebels,  while  some  went  down.  Towards  night  the  storm 
abated. 

The  great  secret  was  at  last  revealed.  Land  came  in 
sight,  which  proved  to  be  Port  Royal,  South  Carolina.  At 
first  few  vessels  were  to  be  seen,  but  in  a  short  time  they 
were  coming  in  from  all  directions. 

About  9  130  A.  M.  of  the  yth,  the  bombardment  com- 
menced. The  vessels,  fifteen  in  number,  quickly  got  into 
line,  the  Wabash  leading,  and  speedily  commenced  the 
attack  on  Fort  Beauregard,  each  vessel  delivering  a  broad- 
side on  passing,  and  on  returning  the  same  salutation  was 
bestowed  on  Fort  Walker.  This  continued  for  more  than 
three  hours,  when  the  forts  were  silenced.  A  small  boat 
was  seen  to  leave  the  Wabash,  and  every  eye  was  strained, 
watching  the  little  craft  as  it  neared  the  shore.  Sud- 
denly the  old  flag  was  seen  to  flutter  from  the  flagstaff  on 
the  rebel  fort,  when  a  cheer  went  up  from  twenty  thou- 
sand voices,  and  the  "  Star-Spangled  Banner"  was  pealed 
forth  from  fifteen  bands.  It  was  a  grand  scene. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

E  had  been  on  shipboard  nearly  three  weeks, 
and  were  rejoiced  to  get  on  land  once  more. 
It  was  only  an  island,  but  fertile  and  pic- 
turesque, with  its  beautiful  groves  of  South- 
ern pine,  magnificent  live  oaks,  festooned 
with  light  green  trailing  moss,  which  is  one  of  the  pleas- 
ing features  of  a  Southern  forest,  palmetto  trees,  more 
noted  than  beautiful,  the  stately  magnolia,  with  its  gor- 
geous and  fragrant  blossoms,  groves  of  oleanders,  orange 
and  lemon  trees,  sea  island  cotton,  sweet  potatoes,  corn, 
beans,  peanuts,  melons,  and  every  kind  of  vegetable. 
Some  of  its  products,  which  yielded  most  abundantly, 
could  willingly  have  been  dispensed  with,  such  as  alliga- 
tors, wood-ticks,  fleas,  and  mosquitoes. 

We  were  marched  about  a  mile  from  Fort  Walker,  and 
halted  in  a  large  cotton  field  of  some  two  hundred  acres, 
the  cotton  hanging  from  the  bolls  and  ready  for  the  pick- 
ers. This  we  destroyed,  and  pitched  our  tents  in  its 
place. 

It  was  evening  before  we  were  settled,  and  the  only 
foraging  done  was  in  a  large  field  of  peanuts  adjoining. 
The  boys  were  out  in  full  force,  and  large  quantities  were 
taken. 


142  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

The  early  bird  gets  the  worm.  Three  of  us  arose  at 
daybreak,  and,  as  our  cooking  utensils  were  not  ashore, 
took  a  hasty  kbreakfast  of  oysters  from  a  neighboring  creek, 
and  started  on  a  foraging  expedition.  We  visited  sev- 
eral plantations,  all  of  which  had  been  thoroughly  looted. 
About  six  miles  from  camp  we  came  to  a  place  that  had 
not  been  foraged.  The  orange  trees  were  loaded  with 
the  choicest  of  fruit,  and  the  elegant  mansion  contained 
a  library  filled  with  valuable  books,  while  its  walls  were 
adorned  with  fine  pictures.  We  took  little  from  the 
house — a  few  books,  with  a  picture  or  two — dressed  a 
sheep,  taking  about  half  of  it,  with  a  bushel  of  oranges, 
back  to  camp,|where  we  arrived  about  six  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  tired  and  hungry,  but  well  satisfied  with  our 
day's  foraging. 

Several  days  were  spent  making  improvements  about 
our  tents, — digging  wells,  hauling  branches  for  shade,  etc. 
Thanksgiving  was  generally  observed  as  well  as  circum- 
stances would  allow.  All  drills  were  dispensed  with,  and 
services  were  held  by  the  chaplain,  and  there  was  a  gen- 
eral exchange  of  greetings  from  one  regiment  to  another. 
Our  bill  of  fare  was  slightly  improved,  some  one  having 
borrowed  a  cabbage.  This,  with  a  piece  of  boiled  fat 
pork  and  our  usual  daily  bread,  was  what  we  gave 
thanks  for.  Deaths  were  quite  frequent,  giving  us  much 
work,  as  we  were  often  called  by  other  regiments  on  such 
occasions. 

Contrabands  were  coming  and   troops  leaving,   daily. 


II 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  143 

Christmas  came  in  fair  and  warm,  with  flowers  blooming 
and  a  springlike  appearance  everywhere. 

The  Emerald  Isle  was  well  represented  in  the  regiment, 
with  a  sprinkling  all  through,  besides  one  whole  com- 
pany, under  its  intrepid  commander,  Capt.  M.  T.  Donohoe, 
so  that  St.  Patrick's  day  was  enthusiastically  observed. 
In  the  evening  we  serenaded  the  genial  captain,  who 
showed  himself,  as  on  many  other  occasions,  a  good 
friend  to  the  band. 

An  order  was  received  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jackson 
for  the  Third  to  start  on  a  reconnoitering  expedition,  and 
to    take    several    days'    rations 
along.     As  I  had  become  some- 
what tired  of  inactivity,  the  band 
not  being  required  to  go,  I  ten- 
dered my  services  to  the  lieu- 
tenant-colonel   as     his     bugler, 
which  he  accepted.     Four  oth- 
ers of  the  band  shouldered  mus- 
kets on   this   occasion, — D.  Ar- 
thur Brown,  J.  A.  Dadmun,  G.  L.         Lieut.-Coi.  j.  H.  Jackson. 
Lovejoy,  and  C.  E.  Burnham.     Our  destination  was  not 
known,  but  it  was  rumored  that  Bluffton,  a  town  on  the 
mainland,  was  the  point  of  observation. 

We  left  camp  about  2  o'clock  p.  M.,  arriving  at  Sea- 
brook  at  3  130  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  we  embarked  in  small 
boats,  taking  in  tow  a  scow  containing  a  field-piece. 
Soon  after  we  left  it  commenced  to  rain.  The  wind 


144  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

arose,  and  darkness  came  on,  with  every  indication  of  a 
storm,  so  that  we  had  to  pull  for  the  shore,  landing  at 
Pope's  plantation.  We  waited  until  about  2:30  A.M., 
when  we  again  started,  and  reached  the  mainland  at  day- 
break. On  going  ashore,  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  could 
be  seen  in  the  woods  ;  but  a  few  shots  from  our  piece 
soon  dispersed  them.  A  company  was  deployed,  and 
captured  four  rebels,  when  the  lieutenant-colonel  gave  me 
the  order  to  sound  the  recall.1  We  then  withdrew  to  our 
boats,  and  landed  at  Bull  Island  for  the  night,  but  em- 
barked again  the  next  morning  for  Savage  Island,  where 
it  was  thought  some  pickets  were  stationed.  The  rebels 
fired  at  us  from  the  mainland  as  we  passed  each  way, 
and  our  men  returned  the  fire.  Upon  landing,  the  com- 
panies were  sent  in  different  directions  to  explore  the 
island  thoroughly.  In  a  short  time  firing  commenced  in 
every  direction,  causing  much  alarm  to  Colonel  Jackson, 
who  immediately  ordered  me  to  go  out  and  sound  the 
recall.  I  approached  as  near  as  possible  with  safety  to 
myself,  hearing  the  bullets  whistling  through  the  trees, 
and  sounded  the  call  many  times  before  it  was  responded 
to.  The  troops  at  last  came  back,  each  company  swear- 
ing at  the  other  for  firing  into  them.  Instead  of  rebels, 
they  found  friends  in  the  form  of  cows,  sheep,  and  pigs, 
of  which  they  obtained  a  good  supply.  Fortunately,  no 
one  was  hurt,  and  we  again  returned  to  Bull  Island. 

1  This  was  the  first  bugle  call  sounded  by  the  Union  forces  on  the  mainland 
in  South  Carolina  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  145 

Next  morning  we  embarked  again,  this  time  for  Bluff- 
ton.  As  we  came  opposite,  and  about  a  mite  from  the 
landing,  the  boats  were  formed  in  line,  and  at  a  signal 
from  the  bugle,  all  pulled  to  the  shore,  each  boat  striving 
to  get  there  first.  The  rebels  fired  a  volley  or  two,  but 
failed  to  strike  us.  Two  companies  were  sent  out  as 
skirmishers,  the  remainder  forming  on  the  beach.  In 
getting  our  field-piece  ashore,  it  sank  deep  in  the  mud, 
which  caused  some  delay.  We  started  at  last,  advancing 
through  the  woods,  and  driving  their  pickets.  At  each 
cross-road,  detachments  were  left  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  getting  in  our  rear.  About  noon  we  reached  the 
town,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  colored  folk, 
found  it  deserted.  The  colonel  stationed  the  companies 
at  the  corners  of  the  different  streets,  and  on  no  condi- 
tions were  they  allowed  to  leave  the  ranks.  He  ordered 
me  to  enter  some  of  the  houses,  to  ascertain  whether 
there  were  any  rebels  there.  I  visited  several  dwellings, 
but  all  was  quiet ;  not  a  rebel  was  to  be  found.  They 
had  evidently  left  in  a  great  hurry,  for  in  one  house  the 
noonday  meal  was  all  prepared.  It  was  so  inviting,  that 
the  temptation  to  partake,  even  if  duty  suffered  for  a  few 
moments,  was  only  natural.  I  took  a  delicious,  though 
hasty,  meal,  and  made  a  hurried  departure,  knowing  that 
as  I  was  there  without  invitation,  upon  the  return  of  the 
occupants  my  absence  would  afford  them  more  pleas- 
ure than  my  presence.  The  last  place  I  entered  was 
the  corner  grocery  and  post-office.  The  front  being 


146  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

closed,  I  crept  in  through  a  back  window.  While  testing 
and  examining  the  numerous  articles,  particularly  the 
bottles  on  the  shelves,  many  of  which  contained  soft 
drinks,  and  some,  I  think,  that  were  not  so  soft,  I  was 
startled  by  a  knocking  on  the  front  door,  and  an  inquiry 
as  to  who  was  there.  I  responded,  and  on  opening  the 
door  found  the  colonel,  who  seemed  to  be  anxious  to 
know  what  was  in  the  store,  pointing  directly  at  the  un- 
corked bottle  on  the  counter.  I  informed  him  that  there 
was  everything  in  the  grocery  line,  both  wet  and  dry. 
He  ordered  me  to  close  the  door  immediately,  evidently 
being  unwilling  and  unprepared  to  use  the  same  method 
of  disposing  of  the  stuff  on  some  of  the  shelves  as  was 
practised  on  Long  Island  some  months  before.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  lifted  a  trap-door  and  entered  the  cel- 
lar; he  came  up  in  a  short  time  with  a  basket  which  was 
pretty  well  filled,  but  what  it  contained  I  never  knew. 

We  got  a  paper  here  giving  an  account  of  the  fight  be- 
tween the  Merrimac  and  Monitor,  our  first  notification  of 
that  remarkable  encounter. 

The  assembly  was  now  sounded,  and  we  again  returned 
to  our  boats,  many  of  the  men  bearing  little  mementos 
of  our  first  reconnoissance.  One  man  carried  a  nice  silk 
umbrella  ;  another  had  a  baby  carriage  filled  with  bed- 
ding ;  others  had  choice  walking-sticks ;  a  bugler  orna- 
mented his  instrument  with  a  large  tassel  taken  from 
the  pulpit  in  the  church ;  and  even  our  chaplain  carried 
a  bag  of  curled  hair,  intended,  I  suppose,  for  a  pillow. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  147 

After  a  prayer  by  the  chaplain,  returning  thanks  for  the 
success  of  our  reconnoissance,  we  again  embarked  and 
landed  at  Bull  Island. 

Some  of  the  adjacent  islands  were  visited,  and  a  gen- 
erous supply  of  meat  obtained.  On  Monday  we  em- 
barked on  a  steamer,  which  had  been  sent  for  us,  and  at 
6  o'clock  P.  M.,  after  six  days'  absence,  reached  our  old 
quarters  at  Hilton  Head. 


148  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

PRIL  i  was  ushered  in  in  the  usual  manner, 
many  letters  of  questionable  importance  be- 
ing received.  One  of  the  band,  who  for 
some  time  had  watched  the  steamers  as 
they  came  into  the  harbor,  expecting  a  visit 
from  a  cousin,  received  a  letter  stating  that  he  had  ar- 
rived, was  aboard  a  steamer,  and  would  be  pleased  to 
see  him.  He  was  delighted,  asked  to  be  excused  from 
duty,  blacked  his  shoes,  borrowed  a  paper  collar,  and  did 
everything  to  make  a  good  appearance,  and  wended  his 
way  to  the  wharf.  He  inquired  of  wharfmen,  sailors, 
soldiers,  and  negroes,  but  no  one  had  heard  of  the  arrival 
of  any  such  steamer.  On  hearing  some  one  say,  "  April 
fool,"  it  suddenly  dawned  upon  him  that  he  had  been 
sold. 

In  the  evening  a  burlesque  band  serenade  was  given 
us,  which  was  more  unique  than  musical. 

Much  jealousy  existed  at  this  time  between  the  officers 
of  the  Third  and  Fourth  regiments  as  to  which  had  the 
best  band,  and  they  were  frequently  brought  together 
for  a  test,  each  band  having  its  enthusiastic  friends  to 
applaud  its  playing.  On  all  such  occasions  we  reserved 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  149 

for  our  last  piece  "  The  Mocking  Bird,"  with  trills  and 
warbles  by  the  inimitable  Carl  Krebs  on  the  clarinet, 
which  always  settled,  for  the  time  being,  the  disputed 
question. 

To  while  away  the  time,  we  formed  an  organization 
known  as  "  The  Bagpipes,"  in  which  Carl  Krebs  as 
piper,  and  D.  Arthur  Brown  as  chief  drone,  afforded 
much  amusement.  We  had  also  a  quadrille  band,  besides 
several  good  singers,  which  lent  enchantment  to  our  even- 
ings around  the  camp-fire. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  April  4,  reveille  was  sounded  ; 
and,  after  a  hasty  breakfast,  we  struck  tents,  marched  to 
the  wharf,  embarked  on  the  steamer,  Ben  Deford,  and  were 
taken  to  Edisto  Island,  landing  there  at  6  o'clock  A.  M.% 
in  a  pouring  rain.  The  next  day  we  made  a  short  march 
to  the  Hopkins  and  Seabrook  plantations,  where  Colonel 
Fellows,  with  his  staff  and  band,  made  headquarters, 
the  rest  of  the  regiment,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Jackson,  going  about  ten  miles  inland.  These  planta- 
tions were  the  most  commodious  we  had  yet  seen.  Sur- 
rounded by  spacious  and  elegant  lawns,  with  immense 
hothouses  containing  the  choicest  plants  and  ferns  from 
every  clime,  its  numerous  hedges  trimmed  in  every  con- 
ceivable shape,  the  air  fragrant  from  the  blossoms  of  the 
rose,  orange,  and  oleander,  coupled  with  the  sweet  notes 
of  the  numerous  feathered  songsters,  they  formed  a  scene 
of  beauty  beyond  all  imagination. 

On  pleasant  evenings  Colonel  Fellows  usually  called 


150  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

on  the  band  to  give  a  concert  on  the  lawn,  and  often 
invited  the  officers  of  the  gunboat  Pocahontas  stationed 
near  us.  On  these  occasions,  the  negroes  from  the  differ- 
ent plantations  would  congregate  in  large  numbers.  At 
a  signal  from  the  colonel,  "  Dixie,"  a  favorite  song  and 
dance  in  the  South,  was  played,  which  made  the  contra- 
bands fairly  wild.  For  half  an  hour  they  would  give  vent 
to  their  feelings  by  the  liveliest  plantation  breakdowns, 
contortions,  and  grimaces,  to  the  delight  of  both  officers 
and  men. 

This  sunshine  was  of  short  duration  for  me,  as  I  re- 
ceived an  order  to  report  immediately,  as  bugler,  to  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Jackson,  who  was  about  to  start  on  an- 
other reconnoissance.  A  nine-mile  walk  brought  me  to 
the  regiment,  when  I  reported  for  duty. 

Early  the  next  morning  the  regiment,  with  two  pieces 
of  the  Third  Rhode  Island  Artillery,  marched  to  a  creek 
which  separated  us  from  Jehossee  Island,  where  the  reb- 
els had  annoyed  us  by  firing  on  our  pickets.  A  bridge, 
which  had  been  prepared,  was  hastily  thrown  across,  and 
we  speedily  passed  over.  Skirmishers  were  thrown  out, 
and  after  a  few  shots  from  the  field-pieces,  the  rebels 
took  to  their  boats  and  crossed  to  the  mainland,  where 
a  sand  battery  of  four  pieces  had  been  erected. 

A  short  distance  from  the  bridge  we  found  the  body  of 
one  of  our  pickets,  who  had  been  shot  while  on  post. 
No  grave  had  been  dug.  The  body  had  been  dragged 
to  the  place,  and  a  few  shovelfuls  of  dirt  thrown  upon 


REMINISCENCES    OF  A    VETERAN.  151 

it,  leaving  the  hands  and  feet  exposed.  A  piece  of  board 
had  been  stuck  in  the  ground,  with  an  inscription  rudely 
carved  upon  it, — "  Yankey  Soldier."  We  removed  the 
body  inside  our  lines  and  gave  it  a  Christian  burial,  with 
military  honors. 

After  a  short  march,  we  came  to  the  mansion  of  Gov- 
ernor Aiken,  who  was  said  to  have  owned  the  entire 
island  and  to  have  had  eight  hundred  slaves.  Colonel 
Jackson  invited  me  to  accompany  him  into  the  house, 
but  allowed  no  one  else  to  enter,  as  it  was  said  at  the 
time  that  Governor  Aiken  was  loyal  to  the  Union.  I  was 
informed  afterwards  that  the  house  had  been  sacked  and 
burned  to  the  ground. 

We  traversed  the  island  about  five  hours,  without  dis- 
covering any  rebels,  although  we  occasionally  received  a 
reminder  from  the  fort  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 
We  returned  to  camp  somewhat  tired,  as  we  had  marched 
about  twenty  miles,  with  the  temperature  one  hundred 
and  five  degrees  in  the  shade.  Of  the  many  changes 
made  in  our  camp,  this  location  was  by  far  the  worst. 
At  night  one  could  not  sleep,  as  the  heat  was  so  op- 
pressive and  the  fleas  so  numerous.  In  order,  if  possible, 
to  get  a  little  rest,  many  of  the  men  made  bags  from  their 
blankets,  and  crawled  into  them,  drawing  the  string 
around  their  necks.  Immense  mosquitoes  kept  hum- 
ming and  stinging  until  one  was  glad  when  daylight 
appeared,  only  to  be  again  tortured  by  myriads  of 
midgets  crawling  into  the  eyes,  nose,  and  mouth,  and 
causing  intense  pain. 


152  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

I  had  been  here  about  eight  days,  occupying  a  tent  by 
myself  and  doing  my  own  cooking.  Wishing  to  obtain 
the  remainder  of  my  clothing,  I  started  to  visit  the  band, 
which  was  about  nine  miles  away.  From  the  time  it 
took,  however,  and  the  amount  of  travel  I  did,  I  should 
have  called  it  at  least  double  that  distance.  It  was 
pleasant  to  be  again  with  my  old  comrades,  and  to  en- 
joy, if  only  for  a  few  hours,  the  scenery  of  that  beautiful 
place,  though  the  pleasure  was  somewhat  marred  at  the 
thought  of  again  returning  to  the  regiment  and  its  pests. 

I  reached  camp  about  8  o'clock  P.  M.,  and,  having  left 
my  tent  wide  open  in  the  morning,  found  it  swarming 
with  mosquitoes,  all,  doubtless,  anxiously  awaiting  my 
return.  I  got  up  an  entertainment  for  them  in  the  shape 
of  a  first-class  "  smudge,"  which  soon  relieved  me  of  their 
presence.  As  I  was  rather  tired  after  my  eighteen-miles 
walk,  I  turned  in  and  secured  a  fairly  good  night's  rest. 

A  sad  accident  occurred  here.  Two  soldiers  of  Com- 
pany I,  who  had  just  come  off  guard,  were  "  fooling  " 
with  their  rifles,  which  were  loaded,  when  one  was  dis- 
charged, killing  Henry  R.  Bolles  instantly. 

The  band  again  joined  us,  which  was  a  source  of  great 
pleasure  to  the  regiment. 

Sneering  remarks  are  sometimes  made  respecting  regi- 
mental bands, — how  lazy  and  what  a  useless  appendage 
they  are,  etc., — but  let  a  regiment  be  deprived  of  music,  if 
only  for  a  short  time,  and  their  services  are  appre- 
ciated. 


£    I 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


153 


Our  camp  had  now  quite  a  comfortable  appearance. 
Trees  and  branches  were  placed  around,  shading  us  from 
the  sun  ;  floors  and  bunks  were  put  in  tents  to  protect  us 
from  the  fleas ;  nets  were  furnished,  to  shield  us  from  the 
cruel  attacks  of  the  mosquitoes  ;  and  had  it  not  been  for 
the  tortures  inflicted  upon  us  by  the  midgets  throughout 
the  day,  it  might  have  been  called  a  pleasant  camp. 

Each  day  could  be  seen  the  "  tin  cup  brigade,"  wending 
its  way  to  the  abandoned  cottonfields  to  gather  the  lus- 
cious blackberries,  which  grew 
there  in  immense  quantities.  As 
we  were  allowed  flour  in  place  of 
hardtack,  and  sugar  for  the  ber- 
ries, we  enjoyed  a  generous  and 
excellent  meal  of  pancakes  each 
evening.  Occasionally,  mush- 
rooms would  be  brought  in  ; 
but  our  New  England  boys  had 
never  acquired  a  taste  for  a  fun- 
gus of  that  nature,  and  believed  that  they  were  poisonous, 
"  nothing  but  toadstools,"  and  warned  those  of  us  who 
were  about  to  indulge,  not  to  eat  them,  as  they  would 
surely  kill  us.  Their  talk  was  unheeded,  however,  and  a 
hearty  meal  was  enjoyed.  After  waiting  a  sufficient 
length  of  time  for  them  to  put  in  their  deadly  work  with- 
out any  perceptible  sign  of  dissolution  on  our  part,  the 
boys  concluded  to  test  them,  and  were  so  well  pleased 
that  many  might  have  been  seen  hunting  daily  for  the 


Major  John   F.   Bedell. 


154  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

"  poisonous  toadstools."  In  the  creeks  we  found  the 
periwinkle,  a  delicious  shell-fish,  which  in  the  English 
market  is  the  choicest  and  most  high-priced  of  mollusks, 
but  only  one  of  the  band  indulged  in  eating  "  snails,"  as 
they  were  termed  by  the  rest. 

Guard-mount,  drills,  and  dress  parades  were  the  usual 
daily  routine  of  duty.  Outside  of  that,  foraging  would 
be  in  order.  On  one  occasion,  a  number  of  the  band 
started  out  to  do  a  little  exploration.  After  visiting  a  few 
plantations,  with  poor  success,  and  becoming  somewhat 
tired,  we  entered  a  little  church  which  contained  an  or- 
gan and  other  furnishings,  complete.  It  was  suggested 
by  some  one  that  we  hold  a  religious  service.  We  had 
with  us  a  fine  organist,  whose  voluntary  was  very  pleas- 
ing, although  somewhat  unique  ;  also  a  minister's  son, 
who,  though  perhaps  not  as  religiously  inclined  as  some 
others  of  the  band,  was  a  fluent  speaker,  and  did  full  jus- 
tice to  his  subject,  while  the  rest  formed  themselves  into 
an  excellent  choir  and  an  attentive  congregation.  I  have 
attended  services  that  have  been  marked  with  greater 
solemnity,  but  never  experienced  more  enjoyment  and 
general  satisfaction  than  on  that  occasion. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  155 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

N  the  evening  of  June  i,  orders  were  issued 
for  the  regiment  to  prepare  to  start,  so 
that  little  sleep  was  obtained,  and  at 
three  o'clock  the  next  morning  we  broke 
camp  and  marched  about  ten  miles  to  the 
wharf,  where  we  embarked  on  the  steamer  Planter?* 

We  were  taken  across  to  John's  Island  and  marched 
inland  about  nine  miles,  on  one  of  the  warmest  days  of 
the  season.  This  march  was  very  trying,  especially  to 
our  young  recruits,  who  had  seen  scarcely  any  service. 
A  part  of  our  route  was  through  thick  pine  woods,  and 
the  heat  was  terrible.  The  canteens  were  very  soon 
empty,  and  we  had  no  opportunity  to  fill  them,  so  that 
many  of  the  men  fell  out  and  did  not  reach  camp  till 
midnight.  Others  threw  away  their  overcoats  and  blan- 
kets, and  the  road  was  strewn  with  them  for  a  distance  of 

1  This  vessel  formerly  belonged  to  the  Confederacy,  and  was  used  in  Charles- 
ton harbor  as  a  supply  steamer  to  the  surrounding  forts.  May  13,  1862,  while 
its  white  officers  were  on  shore,  Robert  Smalls,  the  famous  colored  pilot,  and 
the  crew,  with  their  families,  all  colored,  steered  it  out  of  the  harbor,  by  Fort 
Sumter,  and  reached  our  blockading  squadron,  where  they  were  gladly  re- 
ceived. Smalls  and  his  crew  were  allowed  one  half  of  the  value  of  the  vessel 
from  the  government,  and  were  given  charge  of  her  in  this  department. 


156  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

several  miles.  We  finally  reached  camp  about  5  o'clock 
p.  M.,  tired  and  hungry,  and  after  a  very  frugal  supper, 
threw  ourselves  on  the  ground  and  slept  soundly  until 
awakened  in  the  morning  by  the  sound  of  reveille,  amid 
a  steady  rain. 

The  only  potatoes  here  were  of  the  sweet  variety,  and 
it  was  with  great  difficulty  we  could  get  even  those,  the 
negroes  assuring  us  they  had  used  them  for  seed.  While 
two  of  us  were  out  foraging,  we  espied  an  old  darky 
planting  potatoes,  and  it  occurred  to  us  that  a  few  of  them 
would  add  somewhat  to  our  scanty  dinner ;  but  how  to 
obtain  them  without  his  knowledge, — for  we  were  satisfied 
he  would  not  sell  any, — was  a  conundrum.  We  lay  down 
beside  the  fence  and  watched,  and  as  he  passed,  diligently 
intent  on  his  work,  we  crawled  through  and  took  suffi- 
cient of  the  seed  to  satisfy  a  craving  appetite.  The  rain 
continued  all  day,  and,  being  without  tents,  we  were  thor- 
oughly soaked,  while  the  mud  was  so  deep  and  adhesive 
that  it  was  with  difficulty  we  could  get  about.  Supplies 
reached  us  in  the  evening,  but  so  meagre  that  only  two 
hardtacks  and  a  small  slice  of  pork  were  dealt  out  to  each 
man.  I  was  somewhat  amused  when  this  ration  was  is- 
sued, for  I  had  frequently  heard  members  of  the  band 
denouncing  the  meat,  declaring  it  was  unfit  for  human 
beings  to  eat ;  but  a  hungry  stomach  has  a  tremendous 
influence  on  one's  mind.  I  saw  some  of  these  very  men 
eat  it  raw,  rather  than  waste  it  by  holding  it  over  the 
fire. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  157 

We  broke  camp  about  2  130  o'clock  A.  M.,  in  a  pouring 
rain,  and  again  I  was  ordered  to  report  myself  to  Colonel 
Jackson  as  bugler,  as  the  rain  had  rendered  the  drums 
unfit  for  use.  For  a  short  march  this  was,  I  think,  about 
the  hardest  I  ever  experienced.  The  darkness  was  in- 
tense and  the  rain  fell  in  torrents,  making  the  narrow 
roads — which  were  in  most  cases  lower  than  the  fields — 
knee-deep  with  mud  and  water.  At  intervals  a  halt  would 
be  made,  and  as  we  were  not  able  to  sit  and  scarcely  to 
stand,  we  were  glad  when  the  order,  "  Forward,"  was 
given. 

It  was  on  this  march  that  the  colonel  and  I  "drank 
from  the  same  canteen."  On  the  pommel  of  his  saddle 
was  suspended  one  of  those  large  canteens,  such  as  only 
mounted  officers  carry,  from  which  he  would  drink  at  fre- 
quent intervals.  I  was  so  cold  that  I  could  not  keep  my 
teeth  still,  and  it  was  a  wonder  to  me  how  he  could  take 
so  much  water  inside,  while  such  a  torrent  of  almost  ice- 
cold  water  was  drenching  him  on  the  outside.  I  had 
my  doubts,  and  was  somewhat  inquisitive  to  know  what 
that  canteen  contained ;  so  at  the  next  halt  I  concluded 
to  ask  him  for  a  drink.  He  was  somewhat  surprised, 
and  inquired  whether  I  had  not  water  in  my  own  can- 
teen. I  said  I  had  forgotten  to  fill  it  on  starting,  so  he 
handed  me  his,  being  careful  to  retain  hold  of  the  strap. 
I  must  have  been  very  thirsty,  for  I  felt  a  slight  pull, — 
a  gentle  reminder  that  he  would  like  a  little  more  him- 
self. What  that  canteen  contained  matters  not.  Suffi- 


158  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

cient  to  say  that  I  derived  more  consolation  and  satisfac- 
tion from  that  drink  than  I  ever  did  from  any  other  either 
before  or  since.  On  returning  the  canteen  I  thanked 
him  gratefully,  and  the  command,  "  Forward,  march," 
was  again  given. 

About  9  o'clock  we  reached  Legareville,  a  small  town 
on  the  bank  of  the  Stone  river.  With  the  exception  of  a 
few  colored  folks,  the  town  was  deserted.  We  hastily  en- 
tered the  houses,  and,  building  fires,  soon  had  our  clothes 
dry.  The  band  took  for  their  quarters  a  small  barn, 
which  was  clean  and  dry,  and  contrary  to  our  usual  ex- 
perience, we  were  its  only  occupants  ;  so  we  slept  soundly 
until  morning.  At  2  o'clock  P.  M.  we  were  taken  across 
the  river  by  steamer  to  James  Island,  and  marched  a 
short  distance  to  a  cottonfield  beside  General  Stevens's 
brigade,  where  we  halted  for  the  night.  The  drums  not 
being  in  condition,  I  was  again  called  upon  to  sound 
tattoo.  The  fact  that  the  rebel  fortifications  were  but 
two  miles  distant  gave  me  renewed  energy  ;  so  I  blew 
the  call  both  loud  and  strong,  thinking  that  perhaps  the 
sound  might  reach  the  rebel  lines,  which  would  be  a  re- 
minder of  old  army  times  to  some  of  its  officers,  for  whom 
I  had  frequently  sounded  the  same  tattoo.  This  I  fol- 
lowed by  lights  out,  bidding  them  "  Good-night." 

June  7  was  another  cold,  rainy  day,  and  our  tents  had 
not  reached  us,  which  made  it  very  uncomfortable.  We 
received  fresh  beef  that  morning,  and  were  congratulating 
ourselves  on  the  prospect  of  a  good  dinner  of  soup,  but 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  159 

we  were  ordered  to  start  immediately  on  picket  duty.  We 
not  only  left  camp,  but  also  our  soup,  which  we  had  so 
anxiously  watched  and  waited  for ;  but  duty  called,  and  our 
partially-cooked  soup  was  emptied  on  the  ground,  as  we 
hurriedly  marched  away.  Shortly  after  dark  a  terrific 
thunder-shower  visited  us,  the  lightning  striking  and 
crashing  among  the  trees,  while  the  rain  fell  in  a  per- 
fect deluge.  The  darkness  between  the  flashes  was  in- 
tense, and  the  continual  roll  of  the  thunder,  mingled  with 
the  booming  of  rebel  cannon,  was  grand  and  exciting. 


i6o 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

UNE  8,  1862,  we  were  within  a  mile  of  the 
rebel  fortifications,  beside  a  large,  muddy 
swamp.  The  enemy's  firing  was  quite 
brisk,  and  their  shells  fell  around  us  in 
every  direction.  Several  men  in  the  differ- 
ent regiments  were  killed  and  wounded.  The  Third  cap- 
tured four  prisoners.  In  the  afternoon  we  were  relieved 
by  a  New  York  regiment,  and  joined  our  brigade  at  Stone 
river.  We  secured  quarters  in  a  large  barn,  partially 
filled  with  husks,  but  the  inevitable  fleas  were  there  in 
great  numbers.  As  we  were  very  tired,  our  slumbers 
were  little  disturbed  by  them. 

At  daylight,  on  June  9,  the  long  roll  was  sounded,  occa- 
sioned by  our  pickets  having  been  fired  upon,  and  two  men 
of  the  Third  Rhode  Island  wounded.  On  June  10,  the 
rebels  shelled  us  all  night.  Our  gunboats,  which  were 
stationed  on  the  river  in  our  rear,  returned  the  fire,  so 
between  the  two  we  got  but  little  sleep.  About  five  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  the  rebels  attacked  us,  and  quite  a  brisk 
little  fight  was  kept  up  for  about  an  hour,  our  gunboats 
and  batteries  joining  in.  A  few  men  on  our  side  were 
killed  and  wounded,  the  rebel  loss  being  much  greater. 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  l6l 

The  next  day  we  walked  over  the  field,  and  saw  many  of 
the  enemy's  dead,  who  were  afterwards  buried  by  our 
men. 

The  gunboats  and  rebel  batteries  still  continued  their 
rattling  fire  both  day  and  night,  while  the  disturbance 
from  the  wounded,  frequently  brought  into  our  quarters, 
made  it  very  unpleasant.  At  last  we  received  our  knap- 
sacks and  tents,  and  were  glad  to  get  them,  for  our 
undergarments,  although  subjected  to  many  drenchings 
from  the  incessant  rains,  were  anything  but  clean,  and 
frequently  caused  an  irritation  which  by  the  soldiers  was 
termed  "  the  scratch." 

Our  heavy  siege  guns  were  now  in  position,  and  opened 
on  the  enemy's  works,  which  provoked  a  brisk  response 
from  them.  So  many  of  our  men  were  wounded  daily, 
that  details  were  made  from  the  band  for  picket  and 
hospital  duty,  and  also  for  carrying  the  wounded  .on 
board  the  steamers  to  be  taken  to  the  general  hospital 
at  Hilton  Head. 

Sixty  rounds  of  ammunition  were  issued  to  each  man 
on  June  15,  with  orders  to  be  ready  to  turn  out  at  2 
o'clock  A.  M. 

On  the  morning  of  June  16,  a  battle  was  fought,  in 
which  we  were  badly  beaten,  losing,  in  about  three  hours, 
one  hundred  and  five  men  from  our  regiment.  In  order 
to  give  a  concise  account  of  the  part  which  the  Third  New 
Hampshire  took  in  this  engagement,  I  will  quote  a  portion 
of  Colonel  Jackson's  official  report. 


1 62  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

"  HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  REGIMENT,  N.  H.  VOLS. 

"JAMES  ISLAND,  S.  C.,  June  19,  1862. 
"  To  the  Acting  Brig.-Gen.  Robert  Williams : 

"  SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  present  the  following  report : 
"  On  the  morning  of  the  i6th  instant,  I  received  orders  to  form  the 
six  companies  of  my  regiment  remaining  in  camp — four  companies 
being  on  picket — and  fall  in  the  rear  of  the  Rhode  Island  Third, 
which  I  did  at  three  o'clock.  After  the  line  had  been  formed  a  short 
time,  I  received  orders  to  march  forward.  When  I  came  up  with  our 
pickets,  I  was  joined  by  the  remaining  four  companies  of  my  regir 
ment.  I  soon  received  orders  to  again  advance,  which  I  did,  till  I 
reached  some  wooden  buildings  near  the  enemy's  earthworks  ;  and  as 
I  had  then  got  in  advance  of  those  I  was  ordered  to  support,  I  halted 
my  command  and  waited  for  further  orders.  Orders  soon  came  for 
me  to  move  on  and  support  the  advance.  Thinking  I  had  made 
some  mistake  and  that  there  were  some  of  our  forces  in  advance,  I 
threw  forward  my  two  flank  companies  as  skirmishers,  under  cover  of 
some  shanties  that  were  very  near  the  breastworks,  and  gave  them  a 
fine  opportunity  to  operate  against  the  enemy.  Company  A  was 
commanded  by  Captain  Clark,  and  Company  E  by  First  Lieutenant 
Maxwell.  I  then  moved  the  remainder  of  the  regiment  to  within 
forty  yards  of  the  side  of  the  earthworks,  and  opened  fire,  driving 
therefrom  the  gunners  from  three  guns  which  appeared  to  me  to  be 
facing  the  southwest.  I  found  there  was  no  artillery  facing  the  side  I 
was  on,  and  it  would  have  been  very  easy  for  me  to  have  gone  into 
the  fort,  provided  I  could  have  crossed  a  stream  between  me  and  the 
earthworks,  about  twenty  yards  in  width,  with  apparently  four  or  five 
feet  of  water,  and  the  mud  very  soft;  the  men,  therefore,  could  not 
cross.  After  getting  into  this  position,  the  enemy  soon  opened  on 
me  from  a  battery  that  was  about  two  hundred  yards  in  our  rear, 
throwing  grape  into  the  ranks,  from  which  we  suffered  severely.  In 
a  short  time  they  opened  fire  with  rifles  and  infantry ;  at  the  same 
time,  a  battery  about  a  mile  north  of  us  opened  on  us  with  round 
shot  and  shell,  one  shot  from  which  killed  a  captain  and  a  non- 
commissioned officer.  Yet  the  men  stood  at  their  fires,  and  obeyed 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  163 

orders  promptly.  There  soon  appeared  on  our  left  a  body  of  the 
enemy,  forming  in  three  battalions,  in  which  form  they  marched  to 
reinforce  the  earthwork  in  front  of  us.  During  this  time,  I  had 
informed  the  general  of  our  position,  and  of  the  above-mentioned 
reinforcement. 

"At  this  time  the  Rhode  Island  Third  made  an  attack  on  the  force 
in  my  rear,  materially  assisting  me  in  my  position.  Meanwhile  the 
reinforcements  of  the  enemy  had  come  in  range  of  our  fire,  and  I 
opened  fire  on  them  with  good  effect ;  but  they  were  so  well  covered 
that  they  succeeded  in  throwing  a  portion  of  the  force  into  the  fort. 
There,  being  well  covered,  their  fire  on  us  was  severe,  and  detracted 
our  fire  from  the  reinforcements,  and  gave  them  an  opportunity  to 
throw  them  all  into  the  fort.  Their  number  was  so  large  we  could 
not  cope  with  them  to  any  advantage,  and,  by  this  time,  the  other 
batteries,  both  in  our  rear  and  the  one  at  the  north  of  us,  opened 
afresh  on  us,  with  more  effect  than  ever.  Some  of  my  men,  by  this 
time,  had  fired  over  fifty  rounds,  and  many  of  the  guns  were  very  foul ; 
some  of  them  even  having  to  shoot  away  their  rammers,  being  unable 
to  draw  them. 

"Finding  at  this  time  that  I  was  far  in  advance  of  all  our  forces,  and 
seeing  some  of  the  forces  retiring  from  the  field,  and,  as  it  appeared 
of  no  advantage  to  hold  my  position  any  longer,  I  gave  the  order  to 
retire,  which  the  regiment  did  in  good  order,  to  the  old  building  from 
which  we  started.  I  soon  received  orders  to  fall  back  to  the  rear  of 
some  of  our  forces." 

This  was  a  very  hard  and  trying  day  for  the  band. 
Starting  early  in  the  morning,  scarcely  stopping  for 
breakfast,  we  hastened  to  the  battle-field.  Soon  we  heard 
a  continual  rattle  of  musketry,  an  incessant  booming  of 
cannon  from  field  batteries  and  gunboats,  and  the  cheering 
of  the  men  as  they  repeatedly  charged  the  Confederate 
works,  and  as  often  were  repulsed.  The  agonizing  groans 
of  the  wounded  thickly  strewn  around,  calling  for  help, 


164  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 

left  no  time  for  reflection,  but  hard,  steady  work  was 
before  us,  picking  out  the  wounded  from  the  dead,  and, 
as  tenderly  as  possible,  placing  them  in  the  ambulances 
to  be  carried  to  the  hospital,  and  administering  water  to 
the  parched  throats  of  the  suffering  fallen,  torn  by  shot 
or  shell,  or  encouraging  them  as  best  we  could  with 
words  of  comfort.  This  work  was  trying  to  the  nerves 
of  the  bravest.  At  the  same  time,  intense  anger  was 
aroused  in  us  when,  from  the  ramparts  of  the  enemy, 

came  taunting  jeers  of  "  d d  Yankees,"  "  Bull  Run," 

etc.  But  we  were  powerless  to  resent  them,  satisfied  at 
their  tolerance  in  not  firing  upon  us  while  assisting  our 
suffering  comrades. 

One  cannot  help  asking  the  question,  Does  civilization 
civilize  ?  Are  we  any  better  morally,  or  more  humane 
than  the  red  men  of  the  forest,  whom  we  call  savages ; 
who,  when  their  imaginary  rights  are  infringed  upon, 
resent  it  with  hatred,  and  exert  all  their  energies  to  tor- 
ture and  destroy,  and  even  gloat  over  their  victims  ? 

With  sad  hearts,  our  forces  returned  to  their  camps, 
which,  but  a  few  hours  before,  they  had  left  with  full 
ranks,  good  courage,  and  great  enthusiasm,  but  sorrow 
was  now  depicted  on  every  face.  Nearly  a  thousand 
of  our  brave  comrades  were  missing,  and  there  was 
scarcely  a  tent  but  had  one  or  more  vacant  places. 

The  Yankee  trading  propensity  manifested  itself  very 
strongly  in  the  Third  New  Hampshire,  and  our  men  could 
be  seen  daily  in  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  ped- 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  165 

dling  envelopes  and  letter-paper,  trading  watches,  buying 
flour,  and  making  doughnuts,  of  which  they  always  had 
a  good  supply.  But  in  one  man,  whom  I  observed  on 
returning  to  camp  that  day,  the  force  of  habit  must 
have  been  indeed  strong  to  lead  him  to  hover  around  the 
battle-field  with  his  wares.  I  suppose  that,  with  his  usual 
foresight  and  grasp  of  the  laws  of  supply  and  demand,  he 
felt  assured  that,  after  such  a  fight,  many  letters  would 
be  written,  and  that,  if  he  was  first  on  the  field,  he  could 
readily  turn  an  honest  penny. 

For  the  rest  of  the  day,  and  far  into  the  night,  the 
band  labored  at  the  hospital,  attending  the  wounded. 
We  washed  them,  changed  their  clothing,  and  gave  them 
food  and  stimulants,  and  also  assisted  the  surgeons. 
We  obtained  but  a  few  hours'  sleep,  and  again  the  next 
day,  went  through  the  same  ordeal. 

How  often  the  question  has  been  asked,  What  does  the 
band  do  in  time  of  battle  ?  Does  it  play  to  cheer  and 
urge  on  the  men,  and  drown  the  groans  of  the  wounded  ? 
During  an  engagement,  the  band  instruments  are  usually 
left  in  the  rear,  and  its  members  are  expected  to  assist 
the  wounded  and  carry  them  to  the  ambulances,  which, 
when  filled,  are  driven  back  some  distance  to  where  the 
general  hospital  is  established. 

All  of  the  wounded  who  could  be  moved  were  ordered 
to  the  Hilton  Head  general  hospital,  and  we  were  called 
upon  to  carry  them  on  board  the  steamer.  The  night  after 
the  battle,  four  of  our  wounded  died  and  were  buried  the 


1 66  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

next  afternoon.  It  was  a  solemn  scene  as  they  were 
borne  to  their  graves,  on  the  shoulders  of  their  sorrowing 
comrades ;  the  band,  with  slow,  noiseless  step,  with  muf- 
fled drums,  playing  the  "  Dead  March  in  Saul,"  followed 
by  the  regiment,  which,  notwithstanding  that  its  sense  of 
feeling  had  been  hardened  by  stern  reality,  gave  vent  to 
its  sorrow  in  sympathetic  tears. 

A  battle,  even  to  the  victorious  side,  is  depressing,  but 
to  the  defeated  it  is  heart-rending.  The  men  walk  about 
in  silence,  and  a  gloom  seems  to  pervade  the  entire  camp. 
On  this  evening  we  were  called  out  and  played  a  few 
inspiring  airs,  which,  for  the  time  being,  seemed  to  dis- 
pel the  gloom. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  167 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

HERE  is  no  rest  for  the  weary.  We  had 
just  laid  down  for  the  night  and  had  barely 
got  to  sleep,  when  orders  were  issued  to 
evacuate  the  island.  Preparations  were 
immediately  commenced,  but  we  did  not 
leave  camp  until  the  next  evening,  when  we  were  crowded 
on  board  a  small  steamer  so  closely  that  we  could  scarcely 
lie  down,  and  did  not  leave  Stono  river  till  the  next  morn- 
ing. 

On  July  2,  1862,  the  anniversary  of  my  birth,  I  was 
the  flattered  recipient  of  my  kind  comrades'  congratula- 
tions and  best  wishes.  On  this  day,  how  forcibly  I  was 
reminded  of  my  dear  old  home,  where,  with  her  large 
family,  my  mother  would  always  make  the  birthday  a 
pleasant  one.  A  nice  tea,  with  the  choicest  "  plum  cake," 
would  be  provided.  We  were  allowed  to  invite  other 
young  people  to  participate,  and  the  day  was  always 
memorable.  The  indications,  however,  pointed  to  a  very 
frugal  celebration  on  this  occasion,  for,  on  reaching 
Hilton  Head,  we  were  tired,  hungry,  without  tents,  and 
had  only  the  wet  ground  to  lie  upon.  Our  tents  came 
the  next  day,  and  the  rations  improved  somewhat,  but  the 


1 68  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

fleas  and  other  pests  were  still  there  in  goodly  numbers, 
and  as  voracious  as  ever. 

When  July  4  dawned  upon  us,  we  had  little  inclination 
for  celebrating.  Our  campaign  against  Charleston  had 
been  a  wretched  failure.  By  exposure  and  battle,  our 
ranks  had  become  decimated,  and  our  courage  was  at  low 
ebb.  The  news  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  any- 
thing but  cheering,  so  the  anniversary  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  was  observed  here  in  silence,  the  only 
variation  being  a  gill  of  whiskey,  issued  to  each  man  in 
the  evening,  by  the  commissary. 

Sickness  prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent.  At  sick  call, 
the  line  at  the  hospital  tent  increased  in  length  each 
morning.  Fever,  dysentery,  and  jaundice  appeared  to  be 
general  complaints.  Doubtless  much  of  this  sickness  was 
contracted  at  James  Island. 

The  regiment  was  now  considerably  broken  up,  the 
companies  being  stationed  at  different  plantations.  The 
headquarters  occupied  Graham's  mansion,  the  band  being 
quartered  in  a  cotton  house. 

We  lived  high  here, — watermelons,  green  corn,  etc., 
were  procured  from  the  colored  people,  either  by  pur- 
chase or  otherwise.  The  heat  was  so  oppressive — one 
hundred  and  ten  degrees  in  the  shade — that  branches 
were  placed  in  the  ground  as  shelters  for  the  sentinels. 

There  seemed  to  be  decided  improvement  in  the  morals 
of  the  men,  for,  almost  every  evening,  many  of  them  at- 
tended the  negro  prayer-meetings.  The  colored  folk  were 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A     VETERAN.  169 

mostly  of  the  Baptist  persuasion,  and  the  reason  they 
gave  for  their  belief  was  that  the  Bible  spoke  of  John  the 
Baptist,  but  said  nothing  of  John  of  any  other  denomina- 
tion. 

Company  H  of  the  Third  regiment,  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  Wiggin,  with  about  thirty-six  men,  were  sta- 
tioned on  Pinckney  Island,  opposite  Seabrook,  separated 
by  only  a  narrow  creek,  and  gave  us  a  great  surprise  by 
the  announcement  of  the  desertion  of  three  of  its  men  to 
the  enemy.  As  we  were  assured  that  they  would  divulge 
the  order  of  the  picket  line,  extra  diligence  was  believed 
to  be  necessary  to  guard  against  surprise.  But  it  ap- 
peared that  sufficient  caution  had  not  been  used,  for, 
on  August  21,  in  the  darkness  and  fog  of  the  early  morn- 
ing, three  companies  of  rebels  pounced  upon  this  little 
force,  and  captured  them  all,  with  the  exception  of  six 
men,  killing  the  lieutenant  and  three  privates  and  wound- 
ing three  others,  one  of  them  fatally. 

We  again  returned  to  Hilton  Head,  and  were  grieved 
to  hear  of  the  death  of  our  commissary,  Lieut.  John  H. 
Thompson.  He  was  a  most  genial,  courteous  officer,  and 
was  endeared  to  all  the  regiment. 

Deaths  were  of  almost  daily  occurrence  here.  The 
intense  heat  and  the  poisonous  malarial  vapors  from  the 
swamps  proved  as  deadly  as  the  shot  and  shell  of  the 
rebels.  Our  ranks  were  fast  becoming  depleted,  and  the 
number  of  low,  pathetic  mounds  in  the  burying-ground 
showed  an  alarming  rate  of  increase. 


1 70  REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

]Y  act  of  Congress,  approved  July  17,  1862, 
all  regimental  bands  were  ordered  to  be 
mustered  out  within  thirty  days  after  its 
passage. 

Now  came  the  final  duty  of  the  band  in 
the  Third  Regiment,  and,  to  show  the  respect  in  which 
it  was  held  by  the  regiment,  we  quote  a  few  extracts 
from  Comrade  Eldredge's  excellent  history  of  the  Third 
New  Hampshire  : 

"  The  band  was  in  demand  for  funerals  and  serenades.  Its  music 
drew  tears  or  cheers.  'Twas  an  inspiration  to  all  who  stepped  to 
its  music,  whether  at  dress  parade  or  on  the  march.  The  weariness 
of  a  march  was  largely  diminished  by  its  cheery  notes.  The  old 
Third  New  Hampshire  never  camped  anywhere,  while  the  band 
existed,  that  it  (the  band)  did  not  attract  unusual  attention  by  the 
superiority  of  its  music ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  pride  thus 
created  in  the  breasts  of  the  boys  had  not  a  little  to  do  with  mak. 
ing  them  the  good  soldiers  they  were  on  the  field." 

"  We  were  weary,  nigh  unto  death,  as  we  then  thought — in  fact  had 
not  more  than  got  half  rested  from  our  terrible  march  of  the  2d,  but 
the  music,  as  it  struck  on  our  ears  in  that  dismal,  dreary,  God- 
forsaken place;  lifted  us  at  once  out  of  our  weariness  and  cheered  us 
along." 

"  We  find  the  band  next  at  its  most  trying  period,  at  the  battle  of 
James  Island,  Secessionville.  .  .  .  The  band  laid  its  instruments 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 


aside,  and,  taking  stretchers,  they  did  noble  service  in  removing 
the  dead  and  wounded,  and  assisted  the  surgeons  in  every  way 
they  could.  The  valuable  services  of  our  band  af  this  particular 
battle  will  never  be  forgotten." 

"  The  death  warrant  of  our  beloved  band  was  issued  Aug.  27,  1862. 
.  And  now  we  come  to  the  final  ceremonies.  At  1  1  A.  M.,  at 
post  headquarters,  Hilton  Head,  our  noble  and  musical  band  was 
mustered  out  and  declared  to  be  no  more.  It  being  regular  muster 
day,  it  had,  previous  to  this  little  bit  of  ceremony,  played  at  guard 
mount  at  8  A.  M.,  and  also  played  the  Third  New  Hampshire  into  line 
for  its  own  muster.  The  boys  could  have  cried.  With  a  little  effort 
on  the  part  of  some  "  speechifier,"  in  the  right  direction,  just  at  that 
time,  our  tear  reservoirs  would  have  been  disrupted,  and  the  flow 
thereof  would  have  moistened  the  sands  of  Hilton  Head.  We  loved 
that  band  and  we  parted  from  it  reluctantly.  Good-by,  band." 

On  Sunday  morning,  August  31,  we  attended  our  last 
guard-mount,  played  the  last  time  for  parade,  and  were 
mustered  out  of  the  service,  thus  ending  our  duties  as  the 
Third  Regiment  band.  Although  a  pang  was  felt  at 
leaving  our  comrades  with  whom  we  had  shared  so  many 
hardships,  and  who,  we  were  assured,  were  pained  at  the 
separation,  still,  most  of  the  members  were  glad  to  re- 
turn to  their  homes  and  friends  in  the  old  Granite  State. 

Of  the  original  members  who  left  New  Hampshire,  all 
but  three,  who  had  been  discharged  for  disability,  re- 
sponded to  their  names  when  mustered  out.  Some  had 
passed  through  fevers  in  the  hospital,  while  there  was 
scarcely  a  man  who  had  not  seen  days  of  sickness,  in 
most  cases  brought  on  by  exposure  to  the  malarial 
swamps,  and  loss  of  sleep  from  the  tortures  of  the  numer- 
ous pests  of  these  islands. 


172  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

We  had  added  to  our  number  three  new  members — 
A.  D.  Baker,  Briggs,  and  Lang.  The  latter,  after  a  visit  to 
his  friends  in  New  Hampshire,  was  returning  to  Port  Roy- 
al as  an  employee  in  the  postal  service,  when  the  steamer 
on  which  he  had  taken  passage  foundered  off  Cape  Hat- 
teras,  and  all  on  board  perished. 

On  Tuesday,  September  2,  we  embarked  for  home  on 
the  steamer  Star  of  the  South.  A  large  number  of  our 
comrades  were  at  the  wharf,  and,  with  hearty  shaking  of 
hands,  wished  us  good-by  and  a  safe  journey  home. 

Two  of  our  number — our  little  drummer,  Gove,  and 
Henry  Stark — were  sick  with  fevers,  and  were  tenderly 
cared  for  on  the  voyage. 

The  accommodations  on  this  steamer  were  very  bad, 
as  we  had  to  sleep  in  a  filthy  hold,  made  so  by  freight- 
ing horses  to  Hilton  Head ;  and  our  food,  which  was 
very  poor,  we  purchased  at  exorbitant  rates  from  the 
steward. 

We  reached  New  York  on  Sunday,  September  7,  and 
went  directly  to  a  hotel.  After  supplying  the  inner  man, 
we  started  for  the  Jewish  quarter  of  Chatham  street,  as 
these  were  the  only  stores  which  were  open  on  Sunday, 
and  purchased  clothing,  for  our  regimental  suits  showed 
such  signs  of  hard  usage  that  they  were  not  suitable  for 
the  streets  of  New  York.  I  remained  in  the  city  only 
three  days,  as  Stark  grew  worse,  and  I  thought  it  best  to 
get  him  home  as  quickly  as  possible.  I  reached  Man- 
chester on  the  evening  of  the  gth,  and  on  the  following 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN.  173 

morning  Stark  started  for  his  home  in  Goffstown,  while 
I  continued  my  journey  to  Concord. 

General  Eastman,  the  mustering  officer  at  Concord, 
was  from  the  regular  army,  and  had  been  with  the  expe- 
dition to  Utah.  A  short  time  after  my  return  to  New 
Hampshire,  I  applied  to  him  for  a  commission,  which, 
from  my  regular  army  experience,  I  thought  I  had  fairly 
earned ;  but  he  seemed  disposed  to  give  me  but  little 
encouragement.  Had  I  received  any,  I  should,  undoubt- 
edly, have  re-enlisted,  but  at  that  time,  other  influences 
were  far  more  potent  than  any  practical  experience  in  the 
rank  and  file  could  possibly  be. 

During  my  sojourn  in  South  Carolina,  I  had  kept  up 
a  correspondence  with  Miss  Stark,  the  youngest  sister  of 
my  old-time  comrade,  Joe.  On  my  return  to  the  farm, 
we  decided  to  go  into  partnership  for  life,  and  according- 
ly, on  the  1 4th  of  October,  1862,  the  anniversary  of  both 
my  enlistment  in,  and  discharge  from,  the  regular  army, 
I  entered  the  ranks  of  the  great  army  of  Benedicts.  Miss 
Nancy  Chase  Stark  was  the  daughter  of  Archibald  Stark, 
and  a  great-grandniece  of  General  John  Stark.  We 
resided  for  about  twenty  years  on  the  old  farm,  and  here 
four  children  were  born  to  us,  three  of  whom  are  now  liv 
ing — Arthur  S.  and  Mary  Edith,  of  Manchester,  and  Mrs. 
Helen  Margaret  Cunningham,  of  Boston. 

Soon  after  my  marriage,  I  again  took  up  the  stick  and 
rule,  and  for  twenty  years  was  employed  in  the  large 
printing  establishment  of  McFarland  &  Jenks,  and  their 


BANCROFT 

LIBRAE; 


174  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

successors,  the  Republican  Press  Association,  of  Con- 
cord. I  devoted  my  evenings  for  several  years  to  orches- 
tral work,  and  later  acted  as  leader  of  the  band  of  the 
Third  Regiment,  New  Hampshire  National  Guard,  mak- 
ing many  pleasant  acquaintances  in  both  the  typograph- 
ical and  musical  fraternities,  as  well  as  among  my  com- 
rades of  the  G.  A.  R.  In  1882,  I  removed,  with  my 
family,  to  Manchester,  where  I  still  reside. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  175 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

N  the  year  1872,  finding  my  health  was 
somewhat  impaired,  I  concluded  to  make 
a  trip  to  England  and  visit  my  parents.  On 
reaching  Liverpool,  I  went  directly  to  the 
county  of  Norfolk  on  the  east  coast  of 
England,  stopping  in  the  city  of  Norwich  for  the  night. 
My  brother  William,  who  was  a  boy  of  ten  when  I  left 
home,  was  residing  about  seven  miles  from  the  city. 
He  had  been  an  officer  in  the  East  Indian  pilot  service 
at  Calcutta,  for  twelve  years,  and  was  now  retired  and 
was  living  here  with  his  wife  and  three  children. 

The  next  morning  I  took  a  cab,  and  in  the  midst  of  a 
pouring  rain,  set  out  for  his  residence.  I  inquired  of  the 
lady  whom  I  met  at  the  door,  whether  her  husband  was 
in.  She  replied  that  he  was,  and  invited  me  to  step 
inside,  which  I  did.  She  notified  her  husband,  and  on 
her  return,  remarked  that  she  knew  who  I  was, — that  I 
was  her  husband's  brother  from  America.  I  thought  it 
rather  strange,  as  she  had  never  seen  even  a  photograph 
of  me,  so  I  inquired  how  she  could  possibly  know  me. 
She  replied  that  she  formed  her  conclusion  from  the  man- 
ner in  which  I  had  answered  her,  when  invited  to  enter 


176  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

the  house,  by  saying  "  I  guess  I  will."  "  For,"  said  she, 
"you  know  Yankees  are  always  guessing."  It  was  quite 
amusing  to  me,  for  I  did  not  realize  that  my  eighteen 
years'  residence  in  America  had  made  me  so  confirmed 
a  Yankee.  As  I  traveled  around  England,  however,  I 
became  more  convinced  of  the  fact,  especially  as  the 
shopkeepers  invariably  spoke  of  me  as  "the  American." 

As  my  mother's  health  was  somewhat  poor,  I  did  not 
wish  to  surprise  her  too  much,  so  my  brother  wrote  home 
that  he  had  received  a  letter  from  me,  and  was  expecting 
me  daily.  My  mother  was  satisfied  that  I  had  already 
reached  England,  so  she  took  the  first  train  for  Norwich. 
Poor  old  Mother !  As  she  entered  the  room  where  I  was, 
she  fell  into  my  arms,  and  had  I  not  supported  her  would 
surely  have  fallen.  She  could  not  speak  for  several  min- 
utes, while  the  tears  coursed  down  her  wrinkled  cheeks. 

The  next  day,  my  father  came,  and  my  brother  and  I 
went  to  the  station  to  meet  him.  As  the  train  came  in 
sight,  I  left  my  brother,  telling  him  to  introduce  me  as 
one  of  his  friends.  When  my  father  alighted,  he  inquired 
for  me,  but  my  brother  gave  him  the  impression  that  I 
had  not  yet  arrived.  I  then  carelessly  stepped  up  and 
bade  my  brother  good-morning.  He  pretended  to  be  sur- 
prised, but  glad  to  meet  me,  and  politely  introduced  me  to 
my  father,  who  shook  hands  with  me  and  said  he  was 
pleased  to  meet  any  of  his  son's  friends.  We  walked 
along,  engaged  in  conversation,  and  I  could  see  that  my 
father  was  quite  anxious  to  have  me  go,  as  he  wished  to 


REMINISCENCES  OF  A    VETERAN.  177 


hear  more  about  "  Harry."  But  William  and  I  kept  talk- 
ing and  laughing,  and  my  father  kept  casting  side  glances 
at  me.  Finally,  he  caught  hold  of  me  and  looked  me 
square  in  the  face,  and  said,  "This  cannot  possibly  be 
Harry  !  "  He  then  wished  to  know  what  made  me  look 
so  yellow,  and  asked  whether  I  was  not  sick. 

The  next  day,  we  went  to  Lynn,  and  there  a  great  sur- 
prise awaited  me.  As  I  entered  the  house,  a  young  lady 
of  twenty-two  threw  her  arms  about  me  and  kissed  me.  I 
could  not  realize  that  this  was  my  four-year-old,  rosy- 
cheeked  little  sister,  who  was  at  home  when  I  left  so 
suddenly.  Standing  near  by,  was  a  young  man  of  eigh- 
teen, whom  I  had  never  seen  before,  anxiously  waiting  to 
greet  his  long-absent  brother. 

During  my  stay,  I  visited  many  of  the  old  landmarks. 
The  first,  and  uppermost  in  my  mind,  was  the  old  acad- 
emy. There  it  was — with  the  exception  of  the  sign  on 
its  front,  "Theobald's  Academy," — the  same  quaint  old 
building,  but  silent  and  deserted.  Its  master  had  long 
since  passed  away.  No  happy,  rollicking  boys,  rending 
the  air  with  their  shouts,  were  seen,  and  a  death-like 
stillness  pervaded  the  old  place. 

As  I  went  along,  changes  met  me  at  every  turn.  New 
railroads,  new  docks,  new  streets,  and  even  the  famous 
"Wash,"  where,  in  1216,  King  John  and  his  train  of  fol- 
lowers were  rescued  from  drowning  by  the  people  of 
Lynn,  sent  its  waters  into  the  harbor  through  another 
channel.  The  "  Banks,"  where,  as  a  boy,  I  used  to  bathe 


178  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

and  fish,  was  now  partially  under  cultivation.  Every  one 
I  met  was  a  stranger.  Schoolmates  and  playmates  I 
knew  not,  and  when  introduced,  found  them  middle-aged 
men  with  families  growing  up  around  them. 

The  gray-brick  grammar  school,  the  structure  in  which 
the  notorious  Eugene  Aram  was  a  teacher  nearly  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  before,  had  undergone  some  changes, 
but  was  still  used  as  a  school.  The  old  checkered  front 
Guild  hall,  built  of  square  blocks  of  black  flint  and  white 
stone,  where  is  kept  the  silver  cup,  a  gift  from  King  John 
nearly  seven  hundred  years  ago,  seemed  different. 

Even  at  my  old  home,  changes  had  taken  place.  The 
enticing  little  currant  cakes  and  other  dainties  that 
mother  made  for  the  children,  and  which  we  thought 
nicer  than  anything  made  by  other  children's  mothers, 
and  which  had  always  been  held  by  me  in  sweet  remem- 
brance,— even  they  had  somehow  lost  their  charm.  It 
began  to  dawn  on  me,  that  I,  too,  must  have  undergone  a 
change.  The  old  clock,  which  retained  its  accustomed 
place  in  the  corner,  with  the  same  "  tick-tock,"  was  appar- 
ently the  only  thing  that,  to  me,  had  not  lost  its  identity. 

On  Sunday,  I  attended  service  at  the  grand  old  St. 
Margaret's  church,  where  in  my  boyhood  days  I  had 
been  a  chorister.  This  church  is  240  feet  long  and  132 
feet  wide,  and  has  two  towers  with  a  peal  of  ten  large 
bells.  These  bells  are  not  used  solely  for  church  pur- 
poses. In  case  of  fire,  they  are  rung  all  at  once,  with  a 
loud  clang,  to  alarm  the  inhabitants.  They  peal  merrily 


REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VEJ^ERAN.  179 


for  fashionable  weddings,  and,  with  muffled  tones,  they 
often  toll  for  deaths. 

The  service  did  not  commence  until  the  mayor,  with 
his  escort  of  cocked-hat  beadles,  bearing  large  gilded 
maces  and  swords,  and  wearing  gold-laced  cloaks,  had 
entered.  The  singing  of  the  boy  choir,  after  the  large 
organ  had  pealed  forth  a  solemn  voluntary,  their  sweet 
voices  ringing  through  nave  and  transept,  vividly  re- 
minded me  of  the  days  that  never  more  will  return. 

All  this  progress  and  improvement  must  have  been 
a  source  of  great  satisfaction  and  pride  to  the  peo- 
ple of  King's  Lynn,  but  for  me  the  old  town  had  lost 
many  of  its  charms,  and,  although  sad  at  parting  with  my 
relatives,  I  came  away  with  less  regret  than  I  did  on  a 
former  occasion. 

In  the  spring  of  1886,  I  was  suddenly  called  to  my 
old  home  in  England,  and  in  sorrow  I  made  the  journey. 
I  had  received  the  startling  news  that  both  my  parents 
were  dead.  As  I  approached  the  house,  a  feeling  of 
deep  sadness  came  over  me,  for  no  father  or  mother  were 
there  to  greet  me ;  the  curtains  were  gone  from  the  win- 
dows, the  door-plate  had  been  removed,  and  the  old 
homestead  looked  desolate  and  forlorn. 

An  older  brother,  regardless  of  the  wishes  of  the  rest 
of  the  family,  had  disposed  of  all  the  personal  property  at 
auction.  Many  articles  that  were  sold  for  trifling  sums, 
would,  from  their  associations,  have  been  invaluable  to  me. 


l8o  REMINISCENCES   OF  A    VETERAN. 

About  a  year  previous  to  his  death,  my  father  had 
made  his  will,  in  which  he  expressed  a  wish  that,  at  the 
decease  of  himself  and  wife,  the  property  should  be 
equally  divided  among  the  children  ;  but  by  a  flaw  in  the 
document,  and  the  cruel  and  iniquitous  law  of  England, 
the  sacred  wishes  of  my  parents  were  perverted,  and  the 
property  given  to  my  elder  brother. 

I  returned  to  New  Hampshire  deeply  impressed  with 
the  thought  that  in  choosing  a  home  in  New  England  I 
had  made  no  mistake ;  for  I  liked  its  laws,  loved  its  peo- 
ple, and  had  adopted  its  customs. 

The  members  of  the  old  Third  New  Hampshire,  with 
the  band,  hold  their  reunions  on  the  shores  of  that  beau- 
tiful sheet  of  water,  Lake  Winnipesaukee,  which  place  is 
also  the  Mecca  for  the  other  war  veterans  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. They  have  erected  a  pretty  building  there,  where 
old  comrades  meet  and  talk  of  the  scenes  and  trials 
of  the  march  and  the  camp.  At  this  date,  December  i, 
1897,  the  last  roll-call  has  been  responded  to  by  nine  mem- 
bers of  the  band, — Mitchell,  Lang,  Krebs,  Sanborn,  Park- 
hurst,  Lovejoy,  Odlin,  S.  F.  Brown,  and  Henry  F.  Brown. 

This  chapter  concludes  the  reminiscences.  The  war 
veterans,  one  by  one,  are  slowly  but  surely  passing  away. 
Their  familiar  forms  will  soon  be  seen  no  more.  The 
sound  of  the  last  tattoo  and  "Lights  out,"  is  not  far 
in  the  distance ;  and  the  soldiers  of  the  Civil  War  will 
be  but  memories  of  the  past. 


